IUCN and CABI partner to reduce invasive species threatening biodiversity and livelihoods in Eastern and Southern Africa

In response to the increasing threat of invasive species in Eastern and Southern Africa, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience International (CABI) have signed a framework agreement to establish their collaboration in managing and controlling invasive alien species (IAS) in the Eastern and Southern Africa region. The partnership will focus on several key areas, including the joint development of projects and programs, mobilizing resources to secure funding, and sharing knowledge, tools, and best practices. This collaboration will not only address the immediate challenges posed by invasive species but also create long-term solutions that advance resilience in ecosystems, economies, and communities.

Invasive alien species, which include animals, plants, or organisms introduced outside their native habitats, are significant contributors to biodiversity loss and extinctions worldwide. These species particularly endanger vulnerable populations in poor rural communities of developing countries, where livelihoods depend heavily on natural resources, productive ecosystems, trade, and tourism. From weeds that damage farmland to pests that destroy crops and diseases that threaten native wildlife, IAS pose serious risks to food security, human health, and economic growth. The challenges are intensified by international trade and climate change, which create new pathways for these species to spread and thrive in unfamiliar environments.

This partnership will support the region’s efforts to achieve Target 6 of the Global Biodiversity Framework which calls on parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity to “eliminate, minimize, reduce and or mitigate the impacts of invasive alien species on biodiversity and ecosystem services”. It also aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 15 (Life on Land), which aims to prevent the loss of biodiversity and combat the threats from invasive species and draws on the findings of a recent IPBES Thematic Assessment on Invasive Alien Species, which highlighted the need to act urgently in collective effort to combat IAS and their impacts.

As the world grapples with the double crises of climate change and biodiversity loss, the IUCN-CABI partnership is timely and relevant. IUCN brings decades of experience in biodiversity conservation and policy advocacy, working closely with its Species Survival Commission Invasive Species Specialist Group (ISSG) to provide data, technical advice, and practical solutions. Meanwhile, CABI, with over a century of cutting-edge scientific research expertise in agricultural science, is recognized as a global leader in biocontrol research and the development of effective tools to combat invasive species, such as the open-access Invasive Species Compendium. 

This united front that IUCN and CABI present, emphasizes the urgent need for collective action and will serve as a model for innovative, science-based approaches to conservation and sustainable development. Together, we are not just mitigating threats; we are building a more secure, sustainable future that upholds the integrity of nature and the well-being of vulnerable communities.