Responding to the challenge, the United Nations is today releasing the first global assessment of invasive alien species and their control.
In 2019, IPBES released a global biodiversity assessment that placed invasive alien species in the top five drivers of biodiversity loss - alongside changing land- and sea-use, over-exploitation of natural resources, climate change, and pollution.
In particular, one of the targets in the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework is to "Eliminate, minimise, reduce and/or mitigate the impacts of invasive alien species on biodiversity and ecosystem services".
Globally, we observe around 200 new alien species every year, and many of these species have negative impacts, including threats to native species, the health of natural vegetation, or the way ecosystems work.
The assessment reveals that invasive alien species have contributed to 60% of global extinctions, and have been the sole driver of 16% of recorded extinctions.
These sectors are highly susceptible to threats from invasive alien species.
Despite strong biosecurity measures, highly engaged primary industries agricultural industries, excellent research infrastructure and a high level of public awareness, invasive alien species continue to slip through our borders and multiply.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/life/science/environment/2023/09/04/invasive-alien-species-destruction-nature/
Australia’s unique environment is under relentless attack by unwanted aliens and climate change is about to supercharge the threat, top scientists warn.
It’s estimated human activity has introduced more than 37,000 alien species to regions and biomes where they don’t belong, a figure that’s rising at an unprecedented rate and fuelling an extraordinary loss of biodiversity as they prey on and crowd out native species.
In fact, 1200 local extinctions can be put down to about 218 invaders.
Global economic costs have been conservatively estimated at more than $423 billion a year.
Andy Sheppard, another co-ordinating lead author and the chief research scientist at the CSIRO, says the stand out message is that prevention is far cheaper than having to deal with invasions.
"You have to be prepared and you have to be able to respond quickly.”