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https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/sep/04/invasive-species-cost-humans-423bn-each-year-and-threaten-worlds-diversity-aoe>
"Invasive species are costing the world at least $423bn every year and have
become a leading threat to the diversity of life on Earth, according to a UN
assessment.
From invasive mice that eat seabird chicks in their nests to non-native
grasses that helped fuel and intensify last month’s deadly fires in Hawaii, at
least 3,500 harmful invasive species have been recorded globally in every
region, spread by human travel and trade. Their impact is destructive for
humans and wildlife, sometimes causing extinctions and permanently damaging
the healthy functioning of an ecosystem.
Leading scientists say the threat posed by invasive species is under
appreciated, underestimated and sometimes unacknowledged, with more than 37,000
alien species now known to be introduced around the world and about 200
establishing themselves each year.
While not all will become invasive, experts say there are significant tools to
mitigate their spread and impact, protecting and restoring ecosystems in the
process.
“Invasive alien species are a major threat to biodiversity and can cause
irreversible damage to nature, including local and global species extinctions,
and also threaten human wellbeing,” wrote Prof Helen Roy, Prof Aníbal Pauchard
and Prof Peter Stoett, who led the research.
“It would be an extremely costly mistake to regard biological invasions only as
someone else’s problem,” said Pauchard. “Although the specific species that
inflict damage vary from place to place, these are risks and challenges with
global roots but very local impacts facing people in every country, from all
backgrounds and in every community – even Antarctica is being affected.”"
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
