5.3.3.2 Combat Invasive Alien Species

There is an urgent need to prepare a national policy to prevent the introduction of invasive alien species threatening ecosystems, and mitigate their negative impacts on forest and marine ecosystems & biological diversity in general. To this end, the NBSAP2 calls for develop and implement national & local strategies focusing on an integrated risk-based approach to controlling and managing intentional and unintentional introductions of these organisms. The starting point in this context is to conduct risk assessment on the impacts of invasive alien species on biodiversity & ecosystems, and based on which establish data base for the invasive species, and develop programs to monitor and alleviate the spread of alien species. An important priority in this regard is to implement eradication programmes for “Prosopis juliflora , an invasive alien plant threatening wadies ecosystems and farmlands. Additionally, there is a need to establish specialized units to monitor invasive alien species, including establishment of quarantine units and endorsement of import & export laws regulating entry and exit of living organisms and controlling the intrusion of invasive alien species. Target to be achieved: By 2025, invasive alien species and pathways are identified and prioritized, priority species are controlled or eradicated, and measures are in place to manage pathways to prevent their introduction and establishment.