The proliferation of alien species costs the global economy more than $420 billion a year, and the problem is only growing
Human activities have resulted in the introduction of 37,000 alien species around the world, with 3500 of those species responsible for serious harm to wildlife, food production and human health. The global economic cost of these invaders is now more $420 billion a year, according to the first major global report on invasive species, by the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services .
“This is a huge, huge problem, and it is a growing problem,” says Helen Roy at the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, one of 90 researchers who helped put the report together. However, the report also says that much can be done to tackle the issue and to prevent further introductions.Advertisement People can take steps to ensure they do not help invasive species to spread, and can also report the presence of invasive species to help eliminate them or prevent them becoming established in the first place. For instance, she says, in the UK reports by members of the public are helping to ensure that any nests of Asian hornets are promptly destroyed and have so far prevented the species becoming established in the country.
However, globally not enough is being done. Only 17 per cent of countries have national laws or regulations“What’s really crucial is the need to develop policies that cut across different sectors,” says Anne Larigauderie of IPBES. These sectors include tourism, farming, aquaculture, the pet trade, gardening and more, she says.A monthly celebration of the biodiversity of our planet’s animals, plants and other organisms.
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