By: Karen-Ann Gardier, Arlene Ross, Naitram Ramnanan and Dianne Derrick
Excerpt – Executive Summary :
Invasive Alien Species (IAS) are a significant global biodiversity conservation challenge estimated to cost economies over $1.4 trillion annually, an estimated 5% of world Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 1998.1 This is in addition to the significant adverse impacts of IAS on food security and human health and well-being and the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).2 To address the issue of IAS in the Caribbean hotspot, the Global Environment Facility (GEF) has supported several IAS management projects, with significant cofinancing provided by regional national governments and international and regional multilateral and bilateral organizations, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and public and private entities. Lead project implementors are UNEP and the Center for Agriculture and Bioscience International (CABI), supported by national executing agencies, the University of the West Indies (UWI) and other public and private regional Agencies and organizations. As a developing region however, Caribbean IAS management remains largely un-coordinated and under-financed.
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