THE THEMATIC ASSESSMENT REPORT ON INVASIVE ALIEN SPECIES AND THEIR CONTROL
17SUMMARY FOR POLICYMAKERS
to managing biological invasions and preventing and 
controlling invasive alien species. Enhancing coordination 
and collaboration across international and regional 
mechanisms is one of the key strategic actions for rapid 
and transformative progress. International and regional 
partnerships can improve management of biological 
invasions. Collaboration and co-development with 
Indigenous Peoples and local communities can increase the 
effectiveness of implemented strategies.
KM-D3 The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity 
Framework provides an opportunity for national 
governments to develop or update aspirational, 
ambitious and realistic approaches to prevent 
and control invasive alien species {D27, D28}
(Figure SPM.7). Implementation-focused national 
biodiversity strategies and action plans can help to 
spur strategic actions and establish the properties of 
the governance systems required for the successful 
prevention and control of invasive alien species and the 
management of biological invasions, and work towards 
delivering Target 6. Coordinated efforts to strengthen 
national regulatory instruments are also priorities, including 
those for online trading and the creation of appropriate 
policies for the development and use of environmentally 
sound technologies, as well as making available data and 
information accessible. Market-based instruments such 
as tax relief and subsidization can be used to incentivize 
action and spur relevant investment. Sharing efforts and 
commitment, understanding the specific roles of all actors 
and encouraging engagement across sectors on prevention, 
control and environmental liability are integral to the effective 
management of biological invasions.
KM-D4 Preventing and controlling invasive alien 
species can strengthen the effectiveness of 
policies designed to respond to other threats to 
biodiversity and contribute to achieving several 
Sustainable Development Goals {D26, D33}.
Awareness of the risks of biological invasions will contribute 
to the effective delivery of several of the Sustainable 
Development Goals, especially those addressing the 
conservation of marine biodiversity (Goal 14) and terrestrial 
biodiversity (Goal 15, including but not restricted to Target 
15.8), food security (Goal 2), sustainable economic growth 
(Goal 8) and sustainable cities (Goal 11), as well as climate 
change (Goal 13) and health and wellbeing (Goal 3). Existing 
collaborative and multisectoral approaches (e.g., One 
Health) could provide frameworks for cross-disciplinary 
thinking and could contribute to the management of 
biological invasions.
KM-D5 Open and interoperable information 
systems will improve the coordination and 
effectiveness of the management of biological 
invasions, within and across countries {D31, D32}.
By delivering current data to relevant actors, information 
systems can facilitate the prioritization of actions and allow 
for early detection and rapid response. Information systems 
can also support improved governance and help develop 
indicators of biological invasions, which in turn feed into 
policy support tools. Collaboration between biological 
invasion experts and across knowledge systems in all 
regions, and enhancement of research capacity where 
needed, can improve data and information availability 
and the understanding of the context-specific features of 
biological invasions and their impacts.
KM-D6 Public awareness, commitment and 
engagement, and capacity-building, are crucial 
for the prevention and control of invasive alien 
species {D29, D31, D32} (Table SPM.2). Advances 
can be achieved through adequately and sustainably 
resourced public awareness campaigns, education, citizen 
science, and targeted investment in research innovation and 
environmentally sound technology. Public engagement with 
citizen science platforms and community-driven eradication 
campaigns can raise awareness and contribute to actions 
that reduce the threat of invasive alien species. This can also 
be aligned with efforts to share efforts and commitment and 
understand the specific roles of all actors. Communication 
strategies based on evidence can help to bring about 
community action on biological invasions by supporting the 
co-design of management actions, knowledge exchange 
and enhanced partnerships among stakeholders.
KM-D7 There is compelling evidence for 
immediate and sustained action to manage 
biological invasions and mitigate the negative 
impacts of invasive alien species {D32, D33}
(Table SPM.2). With sufficient resources, political will and 
long-term commitment, preventing and controlling invasive 
alien species are attainable goals that will yield significant 
long-term benefits for people and nature. Increasing the 
availability and accessibility of information and means of 
implementation and addressing major knowledge gaps on 
biological invasions, particularly in developing countries, 
would result in more robust and effective policy instruments 
and management actions. Additional efforts and cooperation 
are particularly needed to improve data collection in Africa, 
Latin America and the Caribbean and Asia.
17SUMMARY FOR POLICYMAKERS
The thematic assessment report on
INVASIVE ALIEN SPECIES
AND THEIR CONTROL
D. Ambitious progress to 
manage biological invasions8
can be achieved with integrated 
governance