2FOREWORD
FOREWORD
A key objective of the Intergovernmental 
Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity 
and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) is to 
provide Governments, the private sector 
and civil society with scientifically credible 
and independent up-to-date assessments 
of available knowledge for better evidence-informed policy 
decisions and action at the local, national, regional and 
global levels.
The thematic Assessment of Invasive Alien Species and their 
Control, or "Invasive Alien Species Assessment" in short, is 
part of a series of reports whose production was initiated 
during the "first work programme of IPBES, 2014-2018" and 
concluded during the current "IPBES rolling work programme 
up to 2030". The Invasive Alien Species Assessment has 
been carried out by a multidisciplinary team of 86 selected 
experts from all regions of the world, including early career 
fellows, assisted by about 200 contributing authors. More 
than 13,000 scientific publications were analyzed as well as 
a substantive body of Indigenous and local knowledge. Its 
chapters were accepted, and its summary for policymakers 
was approved, by the IPBES Plenary composed of 
143 member States at its tenth session held from 28th August 
to 2nd September 2023 in Bonn, Germany.
The Invasive Alien Species Assessment builds on the 
landmark IPBES Global Assessment Report on Biodiversity 
and Ecosystem Services launched in 2019. The Global 
Assessment identified invasive alien species as a one of 
the five main direct drivers of biodiversity loss, with 1 million 
species of plants and animals now at risk of extinction.
The Invasive Alien Species Assessment explores how invasive 
alien species affect nature and people globally. It analyzes 
the status and trends of alien and invasive alien species in all 
regions of Earth, and identifies major pathways for and drivers 
of the introduction and spread of such species between 
and within countries. The Assessment also assesses the 
IPBES is an independent intergovernmental body 
comprising over 140 member Governments. 
Established by Governments in 2012, IPBES 
provides policymakers with objective scientific 
assessments about the state of knowledge 
regarding nature and the contributions it provides to 
people, as well as options for actions to protect and 
sustainably use these vital natural assets.
The Assessment of Invasive Alien Species and 
their Control was initiated by a decision from the 
IPBES Plenary (decision IPBES-6/1) at its sixth 
session (IPBES 6, Medellin, Colombia, 2018), 
based on the scoping report (annex III to decision 
IPBES-4/1) approved by the Plenary at its fourth 
session (IPBES 4, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 2016). 
The Assessment was produced in accordance with 
the procedures for the preparation of the Platform's 
deliverables set out in annex I to decision IPBES-3/3.
The Assessment of Invasive Alien Species and their 
Control was considered by the IPBES Plenary at its 
tenth session (IPBES 10, Bonn, Germany, 2023), 
which approved its summary for policymakers, and 
accepted its chapters. All material can be found 
here: https://www.ipbes.net/ias
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The thematic assessment report on
INVASIVE ALIEN SPECIES
AND THEIR CONTROL
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