Announcement of international webinar on invasive alien species

Invasive alien species (IAS) are one of the five main direct drivers of global biodiversity loss, as reported by the IPBES Global Assessment Report. Their negative impact has been intensifying globally, requiring strengthened collaboration across sectors and government agencies at all levels and areas for effective management across borders.
 
Reflecting this need, Target 6 of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) is to reduce rates of introduction and establishment of invasive alien species by at least 50 per cent by 2030. Furthermore, the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) recently launched a report on the thematic assessment of invasive alien species and their control, providing useful scientific information to act upon.
 
At the G7 Ministers' Meeting on Climate, Energy and Environment held in Japan in April 2023, Ministers highlighted the need to address IAS and decided to develop a set of recommendations on strengthening international cooperation in this regard. Moreover, in the G7 Hiroshima Leaders’ Communique, the Leaders shared their willingness to enhance international cooperation on measures against IAS. This webinar is one of several occasions to exchange views with other governments, relevant international organizations, and stakeholders.
 
The webinar aims to introduce recent major topics around IAS issues, including the key messages of the summary for policymakers of the IPBES IAS assessment report and how it can be utilized for achieving Target 6 of the GBF. The speakers will also share their experiences at the national/regional/global levels toward the achievement of the global target and will further discuss necessary actions to enhance international cooperation and private sector engagement.
 
In addition to the organizer, expected speakers include representatives of the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), IPBES, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the Task Force on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD), ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity and Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research.

Date: October 5,2023
Time: 20:00-23:00 (Japan Standard Time: UTC+09:00)

（１）Introduction & Opening Remarks
    SHIRAISHI Takao, Director General, Nature Conservation Bureau, MOE Japan
    Mr. David COOPER, Acting Executive Secretary, Secretariat of the CBD
    Dr. Anne LARIGAUDERIE, Executive Secretary, IPBES

（２）Purpose of the webinar
    NAKAO Fumiko, Senior Analyst for Biodiversity information, Nature Conservation Bureau, MOE Japan

（３）Key Presentations from relevant organizations

   ①Key messages of the IPBES IAS assessment report
      Prof. Anibal PAUCHARD
      Prof. Helen ROY 
      Prof. Peter STOETT
      Co-chairs, IPBES Thematic Assessment of Invasive Alien Species and their Control

   ②Discussions in the CBD meetings
      Ms. Marianela ARAYA-QUESADA, Invasive Alien Species Program Officer, Secretariat of the CBD

   ③IUCN’s work on IAS
      Mr. Kevin SMITH, Invasive Species Programme Officer,
      The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)

（４）Experiences of coPanel discussionuntries and relevant stakeholders

   ①Introduction to the TNFD recommendations, guidance and metrics
      Ms. Laura CLAVEY, Senior Technical Manager
      Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD)

   ②ASEAN Action Plan for Invasive Alien Species Management
      Clarissa C. ARIDA, Director
      Programme Development & Implementation, ASEAN Center for Biodiversity

   ③Development of countermeasures to invasive alien species in Japan
      Dr. GOKA Kouichi, Head, Biodiversity Division (Ecological Risk Assessment and Control Section)
      National Institute of Environmental Studies, Japan

   ④Challenges for Effective Management of IAS
      Dr. Piero GENOVESI, Head, Wildlife Service,
      Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA)

（５）Panel discussion
    Facilitator: NAKAO Fumiko, MOE Japan
    Discussion on the set of recommendations by presenters

（６）Closing
    NAKAO Fumiko, MOE Japan

Online Registration Link: https://sites.net-convention.com/for/ias2023/reg.html
Deadline for registration: October 2, 2023

Participation is limited to those who are registered by the deadline. The secretariat will send a meeting link to the registered email addresses by 17:00 (Japan Standard Time: UTC+09:00), October 4, 2023.

The recorded video will be posted on the MOE Japan’s official YouTube account, and an event summary will be posted on the MOE Japan Invasive Alien Species Office webpage at a later date.
 

Office for Alien Species Management Wildlife Division Nature Conservation Bureau Ministry of the Environment, Japan
TEL:(+08)-3-3581-3351