Paying the Bill for Invasive Species

Humans have always moved species around the globe. Carrying them along as they moved and migrated. The ancient shepherds transported their herds of sheep and goats with them while they migrated. In doing so they populated the earth with 'new' animals. Sailors and explorers brought new crops to the territories they discovered. Making is possible for the settlers to live in these areas. Without the transport of species from other areas, we would not have tomatoes or potatoes in Europe. And North America would have to make due without rice.

In Europe alone, the number of alien species has grown 75 percent since 1970, and there is no sign of a decrease in this alarming trend.

But the globalization of our economies is causing a profound change in this phenomenon, posing new and growing challenges to our efforts to preserve the biological diversity of the world. Human-induced movements of species have in fact grown enormously over the last few decades. As a consequence of the increase volume of trade and transport. For this reason, invasions are increasing at an incredible speed with no indication of a saturation effect. In Europe alone, the number of alien species has grown 75 percent since 1970, and there is no sign of a decrease in this alarming trend. The effects are often catastrophic on the biological diversity of the earth, the economy, as well as the well being of society and the planet.

Invasive species cost 12 billion euros per year as a cause of destruction and eradication.

In the last four centuries invading species were the main cause of extinction at the global scale. 54 percent of all known extinctions were also caused by invasive species, and for 20 percent invasive species were the only cause of extinction. 33 percent of rare bird species and 11 percent of amphibians are threatened by invasive species. Invasive species are therefore acknowledged as the second major driver of biodiversity loss after the destruction of habitats. And invasive species also cost 12 billion euros per year as a cause of invasive species destruction and eradication. Over 300 billions US dollars per year is spent in the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, South Africa, India and Brazil. It is often the poorest parts of society who pay the cost, as it reduces their access to food and water.

It is therefore urgent to enforce more effective measures to tackle this threat, setting up effective policies to prevent the release of new invasive species into the environment. While at the same time increasing our ability to respond promptly to new incursion when prevention fails.

Experiences gathered in several areas of the world have shown that stringent policies can significantly prevent the impacts caused by invasions, with environmental and socio-economic benefits. But most regions are still doing too little to mitigate the impacts of invasions, and the application of coordinated and stringent policies remains, with a few exceptions, dramatically inadequate.

Email: piero.genovesi[at]isprambiente.it