The thematic assessment report on invasive alien species and their control
Summary for policymakers
The global threat by invasive alien species is underappreciated, underestimated, and often unacknowledged. According to a major new report by the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), more than 37 000 alien species have been introduced by many human activities to regions and biomes around the world. This conservative estimate is now rising at unprecedented rates. More than 3 500 of these are harmful invasive alien species – seriously threatening nature, nature’s contributions to people and good quality of life. Invasive Alien Species play a key role in 60% of global of plant & animal extinctions and pose annual global costs of more than $423 Billion- costs which have quadrupled every decade since 1970. Too often ignored until it is too late, invasive alien species are a significant challenge to people in all regions and in every country.
