Titel
Biological invasions are as costly as natural hazards
Autor*in
Ross N. Cuthbert
Institute for Global Food Security, School of Biological Sciences, Queen’s University Belfast
... show all
Abstract
Natural hazards — such as storms, floods, and wildfires — can be disastrous phenomena and so can biological invasions, for which impacts are often irrevocable and insidious. Yet, biological invasion awareness remains low compared to natural hazards, and investments to manage invasions remain vastly underfunded and delayed. Here, we quantified biological invasion costs relative to natural hazards, to raise awareness and political leverage. Analysing biological invasions and natural hazards damage cost data over 1980–2019, economic losses from biological invasions were of similar magnitude to natural hazards (e.g., $1,208.0 bn against $1,913.6 bn for storms and $1,139.4 bn for earthquakes). Alarmingly, invasion costs increased faster than natural hazards over time. Similar biological invasions impact magnitudes to natural hazards and faster cost growth rates urge commensurate recognition, coordination and action towards invasions in policies.
Stichwort
Invasive alien speciesNatural disastersMonetary impactPrecautionary actionPolicy
Objekt-Typ
Sprache
Englisch [eng]
Persistent identifier
Erschienen in
Titel
Perspectives in Ecology and Conservation
Band
21
Ausgabe
2
ISSN
2530-0644
Erscheinungsdatum
2023
Seitenanfang
143
Seitenende
150
Publication
Elsevier BV
Erscheinungsdatum
2023
Zugänglichkeit
Rechteangabe
© 2023 Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of Associação Brasileira de Ciência Ecológica e Conservação
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