Join on WhatsApp
Join on Telegram
Stuttgart – Invasive pests are causing devastation across the globe, with alarming implications for both ecosystems and human society, according to a major report supported by the United Nations.
The landmark assessment, authored by 86 experts from 49 countries, reveals that over 3,500 harmful invasive species exact a staggering annual cost of more than $423 billion on society, a figure anticipated to surge as the forces of globalization intensify their spread.
These invasive species are rapidly crossing geographical barriers once considered insurmountable, thanks to their ability to hitch rides on cargo ships and passenger jets. This has led to a significant reshuffling of the world’s plant and animal populations, posing dire consequences for both humanity and the ecosystems upon which it relies.
Peter Stoett, a professor at Ontario Tech University, emphasized the existential threat posed by invasive species to human civilization, noting that the cost estimate in the report is “extremely conservative.”
The report identifies the spread of plants and animals between continents as a primary driver of the ongoing biodiversity crisis, likening its scale to the asteroid impact that led to the extinction of the dinosaurs. Invasive species are directly implicated in 60% of extinctions.
The report also highlights immediate and profound risks to humanity. Invasive species threaten to devour croplands, with their role in the spread of mosquito-borne illnesses and other diseases also presenting a direct threat to public health.
The report underscores that it is no longer “normal” for species to traverse vast oceans and continents without human intervention, underscoring the unprecedented nature of the current invasive species crisis.
Despite the growing urgency, the report concludes that the global response to the invasive species threat is “underappreciated, underestimated, and often unacknowledged,” with only about a sixth of the world’s nations having laws or regulations to address the issue.
The rate of introducing approximately 200 new species annually is expected to exacerbate the problem further.
Among the most widespread invasive animals identified in the report is the black rat, which has wreaked havoc on ground-nesting seabirds on remote islands. Isolated islands can often be more vulnerable to the threat of invasive species, as they drive native species to the brink of extinction.
Guam and Maui are poignant examples where invasive species have already inflicted significant harm on native ecosystems.
Aquatic ecosystems have not been spared, as venomous lionfish in the Caribbean and zebra mussels in the Great Lakes have disrupted native species and critical infrastructure.
The water hyacinth, originally from South America, now ranks as the most widespread invasive plant globally, impacting water bodies worldwide.
Even Antarctica is not immune to the invasive species threat, with rising temperatures and the introduction of invasive plants jeopardizing parts of the continent’s natural habitat.
Climate change exacerbates the problem by enabling invasive pests like tropical fire ants to extend their range into higher latitudes, further straining ecosystems. Conversely, invasive species can exacerbate climate change by impeding the capacity of forests to sequester carbon dioxide.
Efforts at the international level have been initiated to curb the spread of harmful invasive species, with nations agreeing to reduce their proliferation by at least half by 2030.
The report strongly emphasizes the importance of prevention through border monitoring and import controls. Eradication, particularly on islands, remains a viable strategy, and emerging technologies, such as genetic manipulation and the release of bacteria, offer promising avenues for invasive species control.
President of the Wildlife Conservation Society Monica Medina also underscores the interconnected nature of these challenges, where invasive species compound existing threats.
Invasive alien species have far-reaching impacts, affecting people worldwide, necessitating global cooperation to address this critical issue, according to her.
Read Also: Morocco Calls for Urgent Global Action to Preserve Biodiversity
