ELEVEN FACTS ABOUT INVASIVE SPECIES
As per Executive Order 13112 an “invasive species” is defined as a species that is:
· Non-native (or alien) to the ecosystem under consideration and
· Whose introduction causes or is likely to cause economic or environmental harm or harm to human health.
1. Invasive species can be plants, animals, or other organisms (e.g., microbes). Human actions are the primary means of invasive species introductions.
2. Many ecosystems are affected by invasive species which pose one of the biggest threats to biodiversity worldwide. Globalization through increased trade, transport, travel and tourism will inevitably increase the intentional or accidental introduction of organisms to new environments, and it is widely predicted that climate change will further increase the threat posed by invasive species.
3. Globally, the cost of damage caused by invasive species has been estimated to be US$1.5 trillion per year – close to 5% of global GDP. More recent estimates of costs within Europe alone are €12 billion.
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4. Invasive species destroy infrastructure, cause public health threats, harm livestock and native animals, and they disrupt ecosystems.
5. Global trade in wildlife generates hundreds of billions of dollars each year. Researchers at Brown University report that during a six-year period from 2000 through 2006, the U.S. imported more than 1.5 billion live animals. “This incredible number of imports is equivalent to every single person in the U.S. owning at least five pets,” said biologist Katherine Smith of Brown University.
6. Non-native, wood-boring insects such as the emerald ash borer and the Asian long-horned beetle are costing an estimated $1.7 billion in local government expenditures and approximately $830 million in lost residential property values every year, according to study by a research team that included scientists with the U.S. Forest Service
7. Asian carps cause environmental losses and damages of nearly $120 billion a year.
8. Invasive species (harmful non-native organisms) are one of the major threats to native wildlife and habitats. The pet/aquaria trade has been identified as a substantial source of potentially invasive species; escaped or released pets and aquaria species can predate upon, compete with, or spread diseases and parasites to native wildlife. Aquaria dumping and water gardening can also be sources of invasive plants.
9. Already, the biological threats from invasive exotic species account for about a 40% loss in global food production, and scientists warn that the problem is forecast to get worse.
10. The harsh reality is that the vast majority of released pets will die. Some will die quickly, possibly after getting hit by a vehicle or encountering a predator. Others will die a long, slow death by starvation. Either way, it is extremely cruel to return a pet into the wild. Captive-bred animals will not have learned the skills needed to survive in the wild. Even those that were originally wild-caught still have a difficult time adapting to a new environment, where their usual food is not available or the conditions may not be suitable. |