Invasive species

The rapid development of biofuels to support greenhouse gas reductions, agricultural development and energy security has often occurred without adequate consideration of the threat of biological invasions. Some biofuel feedstocks and associated pests pose a serious threat of biological invasion, especially when grown beyond their native ranges or in modified settings.

The expansion of international trade and air travel has led to an increase in human-mediated biological invasion, enabling invasive species to travel faster and over longer distances than before. Invasive species undermine human health, security and economic development. This report represents the preliminary steps in the triage and identification of pathways of high risk in the Caribbean.

The growing pace of international commerce has created an increased risk of invasion by alien species, which often take root and thrive in their new environment, often at great costs for the local biota and economy. The risk of introduction of harmful organisms into the United States is increasing exponentially, with costs to the American economy measured in hundreds of billions of dollars.

Más del 70% de la tierra está cubierta por océanos y mares mayores y hay más de 1,6 millones de kilómetros de costa. Sin embargo, nuestro mundo marino está en peligro: la peor amenaza es la de las especies marinas invasoras. El folleto no presenta información nueva o primordial, sino más bien una síntesis de las cuestiones y tendencias actuales, incluyendo varios ejemplos de algunas de las peores especies marinas invasoras, su propagación e impacto.

Plus de 70% de la terre sont couverts par les océans et les mers les plus importantes, et l’on compte plus de 1,6 million de kilomètres de côtes. Mais notre monde marin est en danger : la menace la plus insidieuse est celle que causent les espèces invasives marines.

More than 70% of the earth is covered by oceans and major seas and there are more than 1.6 million kilometres of coastline. Yet our marine world is under threat: the most insidious is the one posed by marine invasive species. This booklet does not present new or primary information, but rather a synthesis of current issues and trends, including several examples of some of the worst marine invasive species, their spread and impact.

Trade and travel are the primary drivers of biological invasion both into and within the United States, and prevention measures have been identified as the most cost-effective means of minimizing the introduction and impact of invasive species. A recognized gap in the US government’s knowledge of the role that trade has played in the introduction of invasive species into the US led to a study undertaken by the US Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of International Affairs and IUCN.

Biological invasion, an issue of growing importance due to the significant increase in international transportation and trade, can disturb the balance of local ecosystems and even destroy them. This collection of papers presented at the International Conference on Assessment and Control of Biological Invasion Risks held in August 2004 at Yokohama National University discusses risk assessment, risk management and eradication.