<
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/sep/04/invasive-species-no-1-driver-of-biodiversity-loss-in-australia-and-feral-cats-have-biggest-impact-report-finds>
"Advocates are calling for an urgent and coordinated national response to the
threat of invasive species after the co-authors of a major international report
identified it as the leading driver of biodiversity loss in Australia.
The report, from the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem
Services (IPBES), was produced by 86 experts from 49 countries and details the
impacts of invasive flora and fauna on ecosystems globally.
More than 37,000 alien species have been introduced by human activities to
regions around the world, the report found. Of these, 3,500 are considered
invasive alien species, causing negative impacts on nature and humans through
their establishment and spread.
Australasia has been identified as a global hotspot for invasive species.
“In Australia, invasive species are the number one driver of biodiversity
loss,” said report co-author Prof Phill Cassey of the University of Adelaide in
a press briefing. Feral cats have the greatest environmental impact, he said,
adding that European rabbits were the country’s most damaging agricultural
pest.
Australia has lost more native mammal species than any other continent, with
more than 100 species listed as either extinct or extinct in the wild.
Research published earlier this year by the Invasive Species Council found
there has been an average of 4.5 probable extinctions a decade since the 1960s,
with around three extinctions a decade mainly attributable to invasive species.
Responding to the IPBES report, Bertie Hennecke, Australia’s chief
environmental biosecurity officer, said invasive flora such as buffalo and
gamba grass in Australia’s north “have allowed bushfires to burn even hotter
and destroy surrounding habitats”.
“Since 2021-22 … we have identified over 28,000 pests and diseases and weeds
that have arrived at the border through cargo vessel, mail and traveller
pathways,” Hennecke said."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
