A study led by Bethany Bradley, a biogeographer
from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, is the first global analysis of environmental
risk from invasive alien species.
The findings show that approximately one-sixth of the lands on Earth
are “highly vulnerable” to invasion.
“First, we analyzed threats of invasive species introduction
and establishment globally,” Bradley said. “Then, we took a look at national
policies to see how prepared we are to combat these threats. Our results show
some pretty clear vulnerabilities — high risk, but few policies to deal with
invasion. We hope that by raising awareness of the highest risk areas, maybe we
can help to jump start a more proactive policy response.”
The report, which was published by Nature Communications, said “most countries
have limited capacity to act against invasions” and that a “clear need for
proactive invasion strategies in areas with high poverty levels, high
biodiversity and low historical levels of invasion.”
The researchers spent their time collecting data to see how
the invasives are introduced and established to the environment while evaluating
the capabilities of national response to “improve early warning and eradication
schemes.”
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