LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – Many have raised awareness of the dangers of invasive species to native species and ecosystems, but recently a study determined the annual cost of invasive species globally, $423 billion.
The Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), released preliminary findings from its “Assessment Report on Invasive Alien Species and their Control” looking at the impact of more than 3,000 invasive species.
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“Invasive alien species are one of the five major direct drivers of biodiversity loss globally,” according to the IPBES report.
IPBES revealed that the study has been in development for more than four years and has drawn from over 13,000 sources.
“It would be an extremely costly mistake to regard biological invasions only as someone else’s problem,” said Professor Anibal Pauchard, one of the three co-chairs of the study. “Although the specific species that inflict damages 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.”
The report indicates that the highest percentage of the impact of biological invasions were reported in the Americas at 34%, followed by Europe and Central Asia with 31%, Asia and the Pacific reporting 25%, and Africa reporting 7%. An overwhelming majority of the negative impacts are reported on land at roughly 75%, while freshwater reports comprise 14% of reports, and marine habitats account for 10% of reports.
Prevention measures have been measured to be effective in many cases, including biosecurity and strictly enforced import controls.
“One of the most important messages from the report is that ambitious progress in tackling invasive alien species is achievable,” said Prof. Stoett. “What is needed is a context-specific integrated approach, across and within countries and the various sectors involved in providing biosecurity, including trade and transportation; human and plant health; economic development and more. This will have far-reaching benefits for nature and people.”
In Michigan, the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) added some new invasive species recently including the mountain pine beetle and water-primrose.
To attempt keeping asian carp out of Michigan waterways, officials have spawned a $1.15 billion engineering project to try and safeguard the nearly 100 year old Brandon Road Lock and Dam near Chicago to prevent the species from entering Lake Michigan.
“These species of invasive carp are moving toward Michigan and threaten our fisheries. If these carp become established in Michigan waters, they will eat the food supply that our native fish depend on and crowd them out of their habitat,” according to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.
To see more findings from the IPBES study, look here.
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