Photo by Francesco Ungaro on Unsplash/Representative Image
Invasive alien species may not be a native term but their impact on the planet can be tremendous. The Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem (IPBES) earlier this week published a comprehensive report that has underlined the threat posed by invasive species. Often underestimated, these intruding species can cause wreckage in almost all dimensions of ecosystem.
A Global Invasion: The Alarming Numbers
According to the IPBES report, more than 37,000 alien species have entered into various regions across the globe.
These intrusions are primarily the result of human activities and their numbers are rising at an unmitigated rate. Among them, more than 3,500 are considered detrimental invasive alien species encompassing a wide range of organisms such as chytrid fungus, Nile perch, European shore cab, Buffel grass, Japanese knotweed, and branched pipe coral, all of which inflict serious damage on the environment as a whole.
The Economic Toll:
The impact in the economic realm can be recorded in volumes. In 2019, these species imposed a financial burden of more than 400 US dollars globally. And this economic burden is rather multiplying that is it has quadrupled every decade since 1970. It is also responsible for the extinction of many species.
Invasive alien species are now seen as one of the direct drives of biodiversity loss, alongside changes in land and sea use, direct exploitation of species, climate change, and pollution.
Recognising this problem, governments of many countries turned to IPBES for evidence-based solutions. The report that has been published as a result of it has been produced by experts from 49 countries over a period of four and half years, it can be regarded as an extensive assessment of invasive alien species worldwide.
Human Costs Involved:
The loss triggered by these invasive alien species is sort of irreversible. These species have been responsible for more than 60% extinctions of plants and animals. Notably, most of the impacts of biological invasions have been negative.
It not only harms ecosystems but also affects the routine behavior of an individual's life. Diseases such as Malaria, Zika, and West Nile Fever spread by invasive alien mosquito species are becoming a threat to humans. These species also disrupt the food chain and the decline of economies.
Rising Threat:
The impact of invasive species across the world is somewhat disproportionate. These impacts are most severe on land, forests, woodlands, and cultivated areas. However, invasive species affect both freshwater and marine habitats.
The number of invasive species is going to increase only with the rapid pace of globalisation. Additionally, climate change won't affect them much as they thrive in all such changing conditions. All of these factors into interplay can amplify the repercussions of it.
Inadequate measures are there to deal with this issue. The lack of active command here puts the environment at risk and the other neighbouring states.
Pathways to Solutions:
The situation though poses a grim picture at the same time offers hope by suggesting ways to mitigate the impact of invasive alien species.
Prevention is considered as the most cost-effective approach including border biosecurity and strict import controls. Early detection and rapid response strategies have proven effective in reducing the establishment rates of invasive species. Containment and control strategies are also possible solutions such as introducing natural predators.
A Call for Global Cooperation:
This report underlines the need for a comprehensive integrated approach to tackle the invasive alien species challenge. It emphasizes the importance of international cooperation, knowledge sharing, and public engagement. By hearing these recommendations, countries and communities should step forward to prevent, mitigate, and manage invasive alien species effectively.
Achieving Global Biodiversity Goals:
The urgency of addressing the invasive alien species here aligns with the global commitment to reduce the establishment by at least 50% by 2023. The IPBES report provides the essential evidence tools, and policy options needed to make this goal a reality.
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