The Global Invasive Species Database (GISD) and international information exchange: using global expertise to help in the fight against invasive alien species.

Abstract

Sharing information and expertise internationally on the ecology, impacts and practical management of invasive alien species (IAS) is a priority for successful management. In addition, knowledge of past invasiveness of IAS elsewhere is critical information for use in pest and weed risk assessments to prevent new invasions. International vehicles for such exchange of information and expertise are described, including; 1) The Global Invasive Species Database (GISD); 2) the planned development a global master list of invasive species; 3) Aliens-L and other listservers and; 4) the planned development of a Global Invasive Species Information Network. Discussion includes the role of a centralised database like the Global Invasive Species Database in the context of a distributed network and recent thinking on the “Conservation Commons”.