New website on forest invasive species
African countries will share information, experiences and
benefits
24 March 2005, Rome - A new website on forest invasive
species in Africa will enable countries to share information on
outbreaks and on ways to tackle them, the UN Food and Agriculture
Organization said today at the launch of the web site. The site will
help countries to more effectively address the problem of invasive
species.
"Until now, African countries lacked effective
means to share information on forest invasive species despite an
increase in the spread of pests across Africa. The new website is
facilitating the information flow," said Gillian Allard, an FAO
specialist on forest health.
Invasive species are species
not native to a specific forest ecosystem, whose introduction does
or is likely to cause harm to the ecosystem. Invasive species have
always been of concern but their threat has grown seriously with the
increase in trade, travel and transport.
Quick access to
latest information
The website has been created by
African specialists at the initiative of the Forest Invasive Species
Network for Africa (FISNA), and is hosted by FAO. Features include
information on new outbreaks of invasive pest species and woody
species. It also provides references, publications and other links
related to invasive species in Africa.
"The sharing of
information on similar experiences will help African forest health
experts to quickly identify, understand and address problems related
to invasive species in and beyond their region," Allard said.
Latest outbreaks
Through FISNA, countries are
already sharing information on the latest outbreaks of invasive
species. For example, an insect pest, the blue gum chalcid, has
recently been discovered in Kenya and Uganda damaging young
eucalyptus trees and nursery seedlings. On the website it is noted
that the pest has previously been recorded in Morocco, Iran, Israel
and Italy.
Also, since 2001, the giant conifer aphid, a pest
native to the eastern United States and Canada, has been recorded
damaging pine tree plantations in Malawi. The web site shares
information on how this can be controlled. Furthermore it shares
information on how the spread of the cypress aphid, which has been
harming cypresses and cedars in Africa since 1986, is being
controlled.
"Once this regional website is linked to other
existing regional networks on invasive species, it will become much
easier to protect African forests from species that transcend
national and regional boundaries," Allard said.
Contact: Maria Kruse
Information Officer, FAO
maria.kruse@fao.org
(+39) 06 570 56524
