By 2040, the spread of invasive alien species (IAS) reduced by 50% in protected areas

The NISSAP was crafted and adopted jointly by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR and the Department of Agriculture (DA) (Joint DENR-DA AO 2020-02) in pursuit of the objectives of:

1. the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act (Republic Act No. 9147), 
2. the Expanded National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS) Act (Republic Act No. 11038), 
3. the Plant Quarantine Law (Presidential Decree No. 1433), 
4. the Amended Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998 (Republic Act No. 10654), and 
5. the Philippine commitments under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), and to 
6. address the threats of invasive alien species (IAS) to Philippine biodiversity, economy and social welfare.

These are taken from the joint administrative order: 
There are nine (9) strategic goals towards a holistic, collaborative and multi-sectoral approach in managing the risks of IAS: (1) leadership and coordination; (2) prevention; (3) early detection and rapid response; (4) control and management; (5) restoration; (6) research and information management; (7) education and public awareness; (8) international cooperation; and (9) training needs. 

Each of the nine strategic goals provide its guiding principles, objectives, implementing guidelines and planned actions spanning three timelines - short term (2020-2021), medium term (2022-2023) and long term (2024-2030).

The joint resolution stipulates that: the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) through the Biodiversity Management Bureau (BMB), Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau (ERDB), Forest Management Bureau (FMB), and Environmental Management Bureau (EMB); and the Department of Agriculture (DA) through the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI), Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), and Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) shall disseminate the NISSAP, undertake capacity building for field offices and other relevant agencies, coordinate the conduct of surveys and researches, undertake public awareness campaigns, and develop specific policy guidelines to ensure efficient and effective implementation of the NISSAP by all concerned.
 

In addition, the DENR, through the BMB and the DA through its Policy Research Service shall facilitate the creation of the inter-agency coordinating body for IAS. Further, both the DENR and DA, in collaboration with other concerned agencies and stakeholders are hereby authorized to coordinate the implementation and mainstreaming of the NISSAP with the plans and programs of concerned national government agencies and local government units including government-owned and controlled corporations and government financial institutions and state universities and colleges. The NISSAP shall be revised and updated as often as necessary to integrate relevant developments on IAS management.

Funds for the implementation of the NISSAP shall be included in the annual budgetary proposal of concerned DENR and DA offices.
 

This was signed by both DENR and DA Secretaries in 2020.
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To achieve the national target, the Philippines will be guided by the National Invasive Species Strategy and Action Plan (NISSAP). 

To support the achievement of KMGBF Target 6, which aims to reduce the introduction and spread of invasive alien species (IAS) by 50% in priority sites by 2040, several actions must be undertaken. 

Funding Strategies Identified in the National Invasive Species Strategy and Action Plan (NISSAP): Relevant stakeholders include the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of Agriculture (DA), Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), local government units (LGUs), and relevant NGOs.

Implementation of Strategies Identified in NISSAP: Important stakeholders include the DENR, DA, BFAR, LGUs, NGOs, academic institutions, and private sector partners.

Development of a National Database on IAS: Important stakeholders include the DENR, BFAR, LGUs, and other relevant government agencies.

Identification of Priority Areas and Pathways of IAS: Relevant stakeholders include the DENR, DA, BPI, BFAR, LGUs, academic institutions, NGOs, and local communities.

Management of Priority Areas Where IAS Are Located: Relevant stakeholders include the: DENR, LGUs, NGOs, academic institutions, and local communities.

Containment and Eradication of Identified IAS: Important stakeholders include the DENR, DA, BPI, BFAR, LGUs, NGOs, academic institutions, and private sector partners.

Update and Strengthen Quarantine Procedures at Entry Points: Significant stakeholders include the Bureau of Customs, Bureau of Plant Industry, Bureau of Animal Industry, DENR, BFAR, LGUs, and other relevant agencies.

Strengthening Capacity Building on IAS Identification, Recognition, and Management: Relevant stakeholders include the: DENR, DA, BPI, BAI, BFAR, CHED, LGUs, NGOs, academic institutions, and private sector partners.

The information currently available in the Philippines on the introductions of alien species as well as their invasiveness are not fully documented. At this time, rates of introduction and establishment by invasive alien species can not be computed reliably. 

The goal, however, is to ensure that priority sites (in particular, protected areas of the Philippines) will be able to prevent the introduction of, contain the movement and spread of IAS through strict enforcement, close and continuous monitoring as espoused by the NISSAP. This will entail a lot of activities to fully implement the NISSAP, from securing funding to improving reporting systems, strengthening entry points as well as developing capacity of personnel in the different agencies involved in different aspects of prevention (risk assessment), border control, monitoring, evaluation up to management, eradication and restoration. 

• Philippine Native Tree Enthusiasts
• Partners for Indigenous Knowledge Philippines

Adoption by the major agencies protecting and utilizing natural resources was the first hurdle that the NISSAP accomplished. The Joint DENR-DA AO No. 2020-02 sets the stage for the cooperation of the agencies to protect biodiversity.

It mentions that funds for the implementation of the NISSAP shall be included in the annual budgetary proposal of concerned DENR and DA offices. 

Implementing the target necessitates getting adequate funding for the identified priorities is essential in addressing proposed NISSAP goals which will contribute to Target 6.

The creation and dissemination of spatial maps indicating locations of natives and endemics (alongside IAS) can be the start off point in engaging LGUs, IP/LC in implementing appropriate actions.

The NISSAP to be translated to local plans, budgeted and implemented. 

Replicate, adapt successful practices in pest elimination e.g. rats in farms collected by communities and “bought” by LGUs. (Weng?)

The NISSAP outlines several activities to contribute to the attainment of the Philippine target to reduce spread of invasive alien species (IAS) by 50% in priority sites. It also outlines the composition of the agencies which would be managing the IAS problem.

Improving the database (making it interoperable with other information systems with national or global databases) on introduced and invasive alien species of the Philippines and populating it regularly is essential to further build the baseline information on what has been introduced into the Philippines. 

This will be the basis for several analyses which will identify the major pathways of the IAS to the Philippines and where they are currently located or where they have most impact. This can set the stage as to where efforts can be done to contain, monitor, manage and if possible eradicate IAS of concern.    

Identifying the specific areas and mapping them are refinements to visualize the distributional range of the IAS. This necessitates some stakeholders consultation to identify areas where they have observed these alien species, their specific impacts whilst prioritizing protected areas, key biodiversity areas and other similar areas to protect natives or endemics which may be affected.

After having identified the major pathways as to how these IAS entered the country, strengthening border control comes next. 

Border control not only includes identifying species at the border barring their entry in the country. It also includes responsible agencies creating a checklist of species which should never be allowed inside the country (this may include, ornamental species, species for agriculture or aquaculture, species used in reforestation, etc.).  Species which have been reported as invasive elsewhere should be evaluated by the committee set by the NISSAP prior to allowing them entry. 

CEPA for the different stakeholder agencies mandated to control the incursion of IAS in the Philippines should be designed and implemented. These are all included in the NISSAP.

• Database of introduced and invasive alien species available in the WRD. This would be the repository of introduced and invasive alien species in the Philippines.
• Various CEPA materials published by the Wildlife Resources Division on IAS.