Cost of Dealing with Invasive Species

Syllabus: GS3/Environment & Biodiversity

Context

• According to a recent study published in Nature Ecology & Evolution, invasive non-native plants and animals have inflicted more than $2.2 trillion in damages worldwide since 1960, and found that the true costs may be 16 times higher than previously estimated.

Invasive Alien Species (IAS)

• Invasive Species are non-native flora and fauna that disrupt local ecosystems, including the environment, economy, or human health.
• Globally, plants were the most damaging invasive group, causing $926.38 billion in costs, followed by:
  • Arthropods: $830.29 billion
  • Mammals: $263.35 billion
• Researchers emphasize that trade and travel are the main vectors for their spread.

Common invasive species in India

• Among the most costly to manage are Japanese knotweed (Reynoutria japonica) and common lantana (Lantana camara). 
• In India, the MoEFCC recognizes over 154 invasive faunal species, spanning terrestrial, freshwater, and marine ecosystems.
  • Invasive plants like Lantana camara and Senna spectabilis have colonized vast swathes of the Western Ghats, including critical tiger and elephant habitats.
  • Lantana alone has invaded over 40% of India’s tiger habitats, threatening prey availability and altering forest dynamics.

Why the Underreporting?

• Study points to several systemic issues:
  • Lack of centralized data systems;
  • Limited inter-agency coordination;
  • Language barriers in global databases;
  • Competing conservation priorities.

Global Policy Responses

• Several international agreements aim to curb biological invasions:
  • Ballast Water Management Convention: Prevents aquatic species spread via ships.
  • Convention on Biological Diversity: Obligates countries to prevent, control, or eradicate alien species threatening ecosystems.
• These frameworks highlight a growing recognition of invasive species as a global ecological and economic threat.

India’s Efforts to Curb Biological Invasions

• National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP): It aligns with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and includes invasive species management as a key priority. It adopts a ‘Whole-of-Government and Whole-of-Society’ approach, involving multiple union ministries and stakeholders. It emphasizes:
  • Restoration of degraded ecosystems;
  • Protection of terrestrial and marine areas;
  • Pollution control and invasive species mitigation;
  • Community participation in biodiversity governance.
• Scientific Research and Documentation: The Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE) published a comprehensive Handbook on Invasive Species.

What Needs to Change?

• To address this growing threat, India needs to:
  • Develop a national database for invasive species costs and management;
  • Invest in early detection and rapid response systems;
  • Promote interdisciplinary research and community engagement;
  • Integrate invasive species control into climate and biodiversity policies.

Source: TH