Goal | How We Work | History | Partners |
The goal of the Pacific Invasives Initiative is to conserve island biodiversity and the sustainability of livelihoods of the Pacific people by reducing the spread and impacts of invasive species. Objective To assist Pacific Agencies to effectively manage invasive species
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We work with agencies in Pacific Island Countries and Territories that are planning or implementing an invasive species management project. We can provide support (what we do) to these agencies throughout the project process. PII also undertakes other activities such as the development of tools and training courses and promoting the Pacific at conferences and meetings.
The Pacific Invasives Initiative (PII) is the Pacific programme of the global Cooperative Islands Initiative (CII). It is the first programme of CII to be funded and was launched in 2004, following initial funding from the New Zealand Agency for International Development (NZAID) in 2002 and 2003.
The PII Programme is implemented by a Coordinating Team (CT) based at the University of Auckland's Tamaki Campus, New Zealand.
Since its establishment, PII has contributed to the effective management of invasive species in the Pacific by:
- Developing mechanisms for building invasive species management capacity.
- Demonstrating that invasive species can be managed effectively on islands in the Pacific.
- Building of a partnership (including local communities) for the prevention and management of invasive species as a tool for biodiversity conservation and sustainability of livelihoods.
- Leveraging of funding.
- Developing processes and guidelines for the development and implementation of invasive species projects.
- Strengthening of invasive species networks through engagement and support of activities.
- Facilitating Demonstration Projects through technical support, training/skills sharing, quality control and peer review in Micronesia, Polynesia and Melanesia.
- Developing a close working relationship and later a partnership with the Pacific Invasives Learning Network (PILN).
- Supporting the Regional Pacific Ant Prevention Programme (PAPP).
An external review undertaken by NZAID in 2007 concluded that PII has made major contributions to the raising of the profile of invasive species issues in pacific countries, increasing awareness through demonstration projects, and building capacity for invasive species management of both, agencies and community groups, in the Pacific Islands.
Following the positive review, NZAID committed to continue funding PII for a further 3 years.
Prior to November 2008, PII had eight partners that provided strategic direction and support to the programme. At a joint meeting in Suva, Fiji, in November 2008, the partner organizations of PII and the PILN merged to form a single united partnership, the Pacific Invasives Partnership (PIP), to provide continued guidance and support to PII and PILN programmes, as well as to other invasive species initiatives in the Pacific.
PIP is also dedicated to ensuring the success of the Guidelines for Invasive Species Management in the Pacific which were endorsed by SPREP and SPC (for publication in 2009).
Current members of PIP:
- Birdlife International (BI)
- Conservation International (CI)
- IUCN Invasive Species Specialist Group (ISSG)
- IUCN Oceania (IUCN)
- The Nature Conservancy (TNC)
- NZAID (NZAID)
- Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP)
- Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC)
- University of the South Pacific (USP)
- USDA Forest Service (USDA)
- Pacific Invasives Initiative
- Pacific Invasives Learning Network (PILN)
- National Park of American Samoa (NPS)
- Palau Office of Environmental Response and Coordination
PII also works closely with collaborators such as the NZ Department of Conservation (DOC) and Manaaki Whenua - Landcare Research (Landcare).