Languages:
The working language of the GISD is English, but there is information in other languages too.
The GISD has multi-language capability offering limited French language content, thanks to our collaboration with the IUCN French Committee. The ISSG has recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Biodiversity Research Centre, Academia Sinica in Taiwan to translate the contents of the GISD into both Simplified and Traditional Chinese over the next three years.

Partners and supporters:
The Global Invasive Species Database (GISD) is managed by the Invasive Species Specialist Group (ISSG) of the IUCN Species Survival Commission. It was developed between 1998 and 2000 as part of the global initiative on invasive species led by the Global Invasive Species Programme and was supported through partnerships with the National Biological Information Infrastructure, Manaaki Whenua-Landcare Research for over a decade. It is currently hosted by the University of Auckland.
Additional financial support has been provided by The Global Environment Facility (GEF), La Fondation d’Entreprise TOTAL, US Fish and Wildlife, The Pacific Development and Conservation Trust, New Zealand Aid, the Terrestrial and Freshwater Biodiversity Information System (TFBIS) Programme, Taiwan Biodiversity Grant, the Overseas Territories Environment Programme (OTEP) and the Critical Ecosystems Partnership Fund (CEPF) among others.

GISD content is created or reviewed by experts:
The life blood of the GISD flows from the generous contribution of invasive species information by ISSG members and invasive species specialists and programmes all over the world. They share their knowledge for the good of us all and their names appear as reviewers, principal sources and contact people on each species profile. The encouraging traffic report of over 1000 unique visitors (125,000 hits per day) that consult the GISD every day reflect the importance of their work.

Criteria for inclusion of species in the GISD:
The Global Invasive Species Database focuses on invasive alien species that threaten native biodiversity. It covers all taxonomic groups from micro-organisms to animals and plants in all ecosystems. We have targeted some of the worst invasive species by consulting with international experts and analysing available data to identify species with serious impacts on biological diversity and/or human activities, and their illustration of important issues surrounding biological invasion. Funding from different sources has lead to a slight geographical bias in terms of species selected for treatment in the GISD, but searches on most of the world's countries return a good selection of invasve species with a good representation across taxa and across ecosystems.

History

• 1996 Global Invasive Species Programme (GISP) conferences in Montreal and Norway.
• 1998 in San Mateo.
• The Invasive Species Specialist Group (ISSG) of the IUCN, a founding partner in GISP, was assigned the leading role.
• 1998, Invasive Species Specialist Group (ISSG) of the IUCN.
• Conduct extensive user analysis, evaluated existing invasive species information resources and begin the design process.
• 1999, GISP Regional Workshop in Kuala Lumpur.
• Concept for database was presented.
• List of 100 of the world’s worst invasive alien species.
• 2000, GISP meeting in Cape Town, South Africa.
• A working prototype presented.
• GISP announces a decision to shift its focus from a centralised database, to a distributed network that would connect many different databases.
• 2001, ISSG meeting in Auckland, NZ.
• ISSG resolves to populate the GISD with core elements of invasive species information in order to raise awareness and facilitate prevention and management activities. Initial focus is on the 100 of the world’s worst IAS and on IAS in the Pacific.
• 2002, ISSG signs a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the National Biological Information Infrastructure (NBII) of the US Geological Survey.
• The MOU provides for a two-stage database enhancement programme as well as doubling the input of species information.
• 2003, Progress report.
• More than 100 profiles created and reviewed by experts. Profiles contain images and descriptions for a wide variety of invasive species, as well as information showing where they occur, how they travel, and the damage they can do. There is management information explaining how to control or eradicate them and the contact details of experts that can offer advice, plus links to numerous other sources of information.
• The GISD receives 160 unique visitors per day (3000 hits/day)
• The GISD supports a number of other invasive species database initiatives.
• 2004, Progress report.
• More than 200 profiles created. The GISD becomes a key part of the Cooperative Island Initiative (CII) infrastructure, and its content is used in training programmes (e.g. the SPREP invasive species training programme). The GISD receives numerous endorsements and congratulatory emails and visitor traffic reaches 30,000 hits/day.
• Support for other invasive species database initiatives.
• 2005, Progress report.
• More than 350 profiles created and visitor traffic reaches 700 unique visitors per day (50,000 hits/day).
• GISD staff, with the support of Jerry Cooper from Landcare Research, develop a draft Invasive Species Profile Schema for the Global Invasive Species Information network (GISIN).
• Deep links to the Red List and RAMSAR databases added where invasive species are identified as threats  

Acknowledgements:

User analysis (1997 - 2000): Sarah Lowe, Greg Sherley, Mick Clout
Original design: Sarah Lowe, Michael Browne, Synergy International
Art: Myles Lawford
Database Manager (1997 - 2000): Sarah Lowe
Database Manager (2000 - 2009): Michael Browne
Manager, Information Services Shyama Pagad  
Technical support: Digital Objects Ltd.

Thank you.