UN invasive species report reveals scale of threat to nature and people – and how to manage it

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While some alien species actually benefit humans, the UN organisation estimates 10% threaten nature and people.

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The ConversationThe Conversation
URL: 
https://theconversation.com/un-invasive-species-report-reveals-scale-of-threat-to-nature-and-people-and-how-to-manage-it-212832https://theconversation.com/un-invasive-species-report-reveals-scale-of-threat-to-nature-and-people-and-how-to-manage-it-212832
Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, September 5, 2023
Information
Tags: 
Human, Food, Travel, Awareness, West Nile fever, Quality of life, Sheep, Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, Plant, Biodiversity loss, US, Climate change, Animal, Nature, Risk, UN, Intergovernmental, IPBES, Goat, Montserrat (department), Biodiversity, Malaria, Agriculture, Hunting, Aquaculture, Risk management, Zika fever, Pacific Ocean, Antarctica
Geotags: 
ASIA, AFRICA, CENTRAL ASIA, EUROPE, AMERICAS
Summary
Key Points: 
  • While some alien species actually benefit humans, the UN organisation estimates 10% threaten nature and people.
  • Alien species are plants, animals or other organisms that are introduced to new regions by human activities.

Growing threat

    • Most impacts are reported on land (75%), with fewer in freshwater (14%) and marine (10%) habitats.
    • More than 2,300 invasive alien species occur in indigenous territories, threatening the quality of life and cultural identities of millions of people.
    • The threat of invasive alien species will loom larger in future due to increasing trade and travel.

Taking control

    • An effective response to each invasive species will depend on where it is happening and how it is spreading.
    • Although 80% of countries have targets for managing invasive alien species, only 17% have specific national laws or regulations.

Invasive aliens can be beneficial

    • The recent assessment acknowledged that perceptions of their threat can vary depending on who you ask, which can complicate their management.
    • The report does not offer guidance for these cases, but assessing the benefits and costs of each alien species is a good place to start.
    • For example, feral cattle, sheep, goats and pigs on the Caribbean island of Montserrat provide meat for local cuisines.
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