Invasive species wipe off $423 billion from global economy every year

Invasive species are wreaking havoc on the environment and economy, costing the world an estimated $423 billion annually, according to a comprehensive report by a team of 86 researchers from 49 countries.

The four-year assessment examined the global impacts of approximately 3,500 harmful invasive species, revealing that these alien invaders play a significant role in 60% of recorded plant and animal extinctions.

The study, led by ecologist Helen Roy and backed by the United Nations Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), warns that the problem is set to worsen significantly.

Climate change and rising temperatures are expected to further drive the expansion of invasive species.

Invasive species, often transported by human activity, are plants or animals that establish themselves in new environments, causing severe damage. They outcompete native wildlife, damage infrastructure, and pose threats to human health and livelihoods. The impacts can be slow to emerge but often result in catastrophic consequences when they do.

For instance, the devastating wildfires in Hawaii last month were fueled by flammable invasive grasses imported from Africa for livestock pasture. Invasive mosquito species also pose a significant threat, spreading diseases such as dengue, malaria, Zika, and West Nile.

"Invasive species are affecting not only nature but also people and causing terrible loss of life," said report co-chair Anibal Pauchard of Chile's Institute of Ecology and Biodiversity.

The majority of the negative impacts from invasive species occur on land, particularly in forests, woodlands, and farmed areas. While invasive species can take many forms, including microbes, invertebrates, and plants, animals, especially predators, often have the greatest environmental impact.

Eradicating invasive species once they are established is challenging. Some small islands have successfully eradicated invasive rats and rabbits through trapping and poisonings.

However, larger populations that reproduce quickly can be difficult to control. Invasive plants often leave their seeds dormant in the soil for years, making them particularly hard to eliminate.

Preventive measures, such as border biosecurity and import controls, are the most effective way to manage the threats from invasive species.

Last December, governments worldwide committed to reducing the introduction and establishment of priority invasive species by at least 50 percent by 2030 as part of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.