Year of publication 2001

The toolkit was designed and partially drafted at an international workshop held in Kuala Lumpur, 22-27 March 1999, in conjunction with the GISP Early Warning component. The toolkit is intended to be global in its applicability, although there is a small island focus, recognizing that the impact of invasive alien species on biodiversity is greater in small island systems. In any case, it is acknowledged that to be most useful and effective, the toolkit will need to be locally adapted for different countries or regions (Chapter 6). Additions of nationally and regionally focused case studies in local adaptations of the toolkit, is highly recommended. The layout of the toolkit is intended to be largely self-explanatory. An introductory chapter to set the scene is followed by chapters on building strategy and policy; methods for prevention of invasive species; the risk-analysis process; methods for early detection of new invasive species. A broad review of different management approaches and some thoughts on how to use the toolkit are provided too. In the text it has been recognized that there are often fundamental differences in the approach depending on the ecosystem being invaded (terrestrial, freshwater, marine) and the taxonomic group of the invasive species (vertebrates, invertebrates, diseases, plants, etc.).