On 4th September 2023 the first comprehensive global report was issued by the IPBES Secretariat on invasive alien species and their control.
Species introduced to new regions through human activities are termed alien species.
The Intergovernmental Science Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) has released its long awaited and extensive report which states “invasive alien species are one of the five most important direct drivers of biodiversity loss – alongside changes in land and sea use, direct exploitation of species, climate change and pollution. On the basis of this finding, Governments tasked IPBES to provide the best available evidence and policy options to deal with the challenges of biological invasions. The resulting report was produced by 86 experts from 49 countries, working for more than four and a half years. It draws on more than 13,000 references, including very significant contributions from Indigenous Peoples and local communities, making it the most comprehensive assessment ever carried out of invasive alien species around the world.”
Headline messages: Invasive alien species assessment
- Invasive alien species are one of the 5 major drivers of biodiversity loss.
- 37,000 established alien species have been introduced by human activities worldwide.
- 200 new alien species are discovered every year.
- 1,061 are alien plants (6%)
- Invasive alien species cause dramatic and, in some cases, irreversible changes to nature globally.
- 85% of documented impacts on nature from alien species are negative.
- 27% of alien species change ecosystems through a variety of ways including hybridisation and disease.
- 90% of extinctions with alien species as the major causes are reported to be from islands.
- The impact of alien species control on people, economies, water security, human health, food supply resulted in $423 billion costs globally
- Current policies have been insufficient in managing biological invasions.
- The threats from invasive alien species has been steadily and significantly rising, more steeply in recent years.
- By 2050 the total global expected rise in invasive species will be 36% higher than now (but this is predicted to be even higher). Land and sea use and climate change being the main drivers.
- The threats from invasive alien species are increasing in all regions of Earth and are predicted to do so in the future.
Solutions
The report wasn’t all bad news, it also provided its recommendations for global solutions, which included:
- Biological invasions and adverse impacts can be prevented and mitigated through effective global management procedures. IPBES is working with many governments to address the issues found in the report.
- Prevention is the most cost-effective option, ways in which spread can be prevented includes:
- Biosecurity
- Eradication
- Containment and control
- Ecosystem restoration
It also outlined how some alien species will adapt to the effects of climate change more easily than native species. Our climate change blog series highlighted this last year.
What does this mean for the weed control industry?
Taking the key points from this report it’s very clear that biosecurity, control and management are going to be the key drivers for improving the dramatic statistics the report provided, and which we summarised above.
Biosecurity is a vital aspect of everything we do to stop potential spread of the invasive plants we work on during treatments or removal operations. Going on site or moving between sites our teams follow the government guidelines as well as our own code of practice to ensure that when they leave the site there is zero risk of contamination travelling with them.
Taking control is the first step to containing invasive plants, and we must encourage industries, organisations and homeowners to get help from specialist weed control companies to take out a plan. A great place to start is with education and training. Take a look at our INFO HUB for our free and informative guides and blogs.
Management of invasive weeds, on land and water will continue to be the best option. As an industry, we simply cannot stand still, we must adapt too. Increasing and diversifying the species we can control will be important as more invasive species adapt to their new habitat and climate – maybe faster than our native species can. Our surveyors are constantly on the lookout for these adaptations and new species that become invasive. Integrated Weed Management (IWM) will become more prevalent in our industry as government bodies impose stronger regulations about adopting a sustainable weed management strategy.
In conclusion
This report highlighted some facts that the industry is well aware of and has been for many years (decades even), but the important take out is this report has prompted global action. Steps will be taken to find real world solutions, and invasive species control plays a vital part. Which companies will keep up with these changes? Ones that are already on this road!