FORUM ON INVASIVE ALIEN SPECIES AND
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF RIO GRANDE DO SUL STATE

The Horus Institute and IDEAAS held two workshops in Ponta Grossa, Paraná and in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, in August 2002. One of the results is a permanent forum of discussion which is initially meeting in Rio Grande do Sul.

The Forum is formed by representatives of governmental agencies, non-governmental organizations, research institutions, and persons of the civil society interested in the topic (see complete list below for further reference).

IDEAAS, The Nature Conservancy and the Horus Institute organized several meetings in Porto Alegre - RS, with support of the ZooBotanical Foundation.

A summary of the meetings is presented below:

The meeting held in Porto Alegre from 20 to 22 August defined working groups to be developed on the following themes:
Research and information management
Public policies and legal regulations
Management models for forest species
Management models for grassland species
Integration between productive sectors
Fundraising

Participants recognized the need to create other groups directed to invasive fauna issues, especially aquatics, given the initiatives of introduction and spread of new invasive fish species by the State Government of Rio Grande do Sul state.

The meeting held on December 19, 2003, was held for discussion of a Term of Agreement among the participating entities in order to formalize the existence of the Forum and clearly define each participant's roles and responsibilities. A draft version of an agreement, written by IDEAAS' lawyers, was presented to participants for discussion.

At the meeting held in Porto Alegre on March 18, 2004, the text of the agreement was concluded, and arrangements for the official launch of the Forum were started. Other meetings will be held in the short term to address these preparations, and all current participants will be invited. Meetings are now taking place for planning and gathering partners.

At the meeging held in October, 2005, participants designed their workplans for 2006.

On July 3rd, 2006, several results and new workplans were presented, and new organizations which signed the term of agreement of the Forum were introduced to the group. This meeting was also honored by the presence of a representative of the Brazil Ministry of Environment, Lídio Coradin, and of the General Coordnation for Fauna of the Federal Environmental Agency IBAMA, the Biologist André Deberdt, from Brasília.

The next meeting will be thematic so that participants can discuss the invasion of weeping grass Eragrostis plana in the Southern Grasslands; the need for production of seeds and seedlings of native species as alternatives to the use of non-natives and to enable restoration practices; and the need for public awareness campaigns in the country.
This meeting is to take place in Porto Alegre in September, 2006, date to be defined.

For more information please contact the Executive Secretary rodrigoquadros@terra.com.br.

Results of former meetings are available below, as well as the list of participants and contact information (Portuguese only!).

List of participants (Portuguese, 14Kb, PDF)

Protocol of intentions (Portuguese, 80Kb, PDF)

Minutes of the 3rd July, 2006, meeting (Not available)

Minutes of the October 13-14, 2005, meeting (Portuguese, 323Kb, PDF)

Minutes of the March 18, 2004, meeting (Portuguese, 85Kb, PDF)

Results of the 20-22/08/2003 meeting - Thematic groups (Portuguese, 137Kb, PDF)

Minutes of 23 June, 2003 meeting (Portuguese, 131Kb, PDF)

Minutes of 31 March, 2003 meeting (Portuguese, 89Kb, PDF)