Biological invasions in West Africa: Introducing the Wan@bi Network as a multi-stakeholder science-society interface tool

Abstract

Biological invasions represent a major global concern, intensifying major environmental and socio-economic challenges, including biodiversity loss, food insecurity, and risks to public health. In West Africa, however, the ecological and socio-economic impacts of biological invasions remain largely under-recognized by academic, policy, and socio-economic stakeholders. This highlights an urgent need for enhanced awareness, capacity building, and coordinated regional action. To address this gap and foster policy-relevant dialogue on biological invasions in the region, the West African Network on Biological Invasions (Wan@bi) was established in 2018 as a transdisciplinary and collaborative platform. Supported by the French National Research Institute for Sustainable Development (IRD), Wan@bi brings together academic and applied research institutions from France and four West African countries: Benin, Mali, Niger, and Senegal. The network promotes joint research initiatives, capacity-building programs, and outreach activities targeting both scientific and non-scientific audiences. Invasive alien rodents and insects serve as focal biological models that structure the network’s research themes and operational activities. Since its creation, Wan@bi has worked to strengthen scientific and technical capacities, raise awareness among diverse stakeholders, and contribute to the development of evidence-based management strategies and policy frameworks addressing biological invasions. These efforts have contributed to enhanced regional cooperation, improved visibility of invasive alien species (IAS) issues, and early engagement with policy processes. Key achievements include: contribution to the establishment of the first environmental surveillance platform at the Autonomous Port of Cotonou (Benin), designed as a multi-stakeholder system for monitoring and managing invasive alien species; organization of the first international conference dedicated to biological invasions and their socio-environmental impacts in Francophone Africa; development of a dedicated website (https://irnwanabi.wordpress.com/) that presents the network’s objectives and outputs while strengthening science–society interfaces through dissemination of outreach materials for the general public; and implementation of thematic capacity-building workshops for researchers, complemented by science communication and public engagement activities. contribution to the establishment of the first environmental surveillance platform at the Autonomous Port of Cotonou (Benin), designed as a multi-stakeholder system for monitoring and managing invasive alien species; organization of the first international conference dedicated to biological invasions and their socio-environmental impacts in Francophone Africa; development of a dedicated website (https://irnwanabi.wordpress.com/) that presents the network’s objectives and outputs while strengthening science–society interfaces through dissemination of outreach materials for the general public; and implementation of thematic capacity-building workshops for researchers, complemented by science communication and public engagement activities. Overall, Wan@bi illustrates the effectiveness of an integrated, multi-actor approach to addressing biological invasions in underrepresented regions. By consolidating long-term partnerships, strengthening local expertise, and fostering the emergence of an engaged regional scientific community, the network has positioned itself as a key actor in the field of invasion science in West Africa. Supporting and expanding such initiatives could facilitate their replication in other regions and enhance long-term global responses to biological invasions.