Working Party 7.03.12
Alien invasive species and international trade

This newly formed Working Party has been established to examine global forestry issues related to the unwanted international movement of alien invasive species, including fungi, insects, nematodes, and plants. The increasing emphasis on pathways for movement of alien invasive species, especially those associated with packaging wood will provide a broad focus for the work of the WP. This emphasis provides an opportunity to integrate across a range of invasive organisms so that links to other IUFRO Working Parties dealing with insects, pathogens and invasive plants will be a priority. There are close relations with other IUFRO working parties as well as the International Forestry Quarantine Research Group (IFQRG) affiliated with the Food and Agriculture Organization, International Plant Protection Convention.

Specific Objectives

• Share information and research results
• Develop data sharing agreements and contribute to global pest information systems
• Coordinate joint research and monitoring efforts
• Encourage improvement and extension of Pest Risk Analysis techniques
• Provide research support toward the development of mitigation strategies
• Act as an interface with other IUFRO Working Parties with particular interests in invasive species, e.g. population dynamics, bark beetles, etc.

The periodicity of the meetings will be about 1-2 years. People interested in the Working Party or would like to be included in the mailing list should contact the Coordinator.

STATE OF KNOWLEDGE

The Unit has not yet developed particular high interest topics, although the subject of phytosanitary risks from packaging wood in international trade is of current concern. The scope of the Unit, covering insects, pathogens and invasive plants, will provide the opportunity for cross-cutting analysis and research into a wide range of invasive organisms associated with international trade.