BBC Inside Science
What’s the cost of invasive species?
Oct 5, 2023
Helen Roy, one of the chairs of a report on invasive species, reveals the shocking extent of the damage caused by more than 37,000 alien species introduced by humans. Linda Partridge from the Royal Society discusses the UK's rejoining of the EU's research funding program. Mahesh Anand explains India's space ambitions. Helen Roberts explores how cognitive biases affect our responses to weather warnings.
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Quick takeaways
- Invasive species have caused economic damages totaling over 400 billion pounds annually and are responsible for around 60% of global extinctions, emphasizing the need for prevention as the most effective management strategy.
- Knowledge of cognitive biases helps forecasters effectively communicate weather dangers by highlighting simple and cost-effective precautions in warnings, understanding social contagion, and tailoring messages to encourage timely responses, thereby reducing impacts of extreme weather events.
Deep dives
The Shocking Scale of Damage Caused by Invasive Species
A landmark report by the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services reveals the extent of the damage and costs caused by invasive species globally. The report states that economic costs have quadrupled every decade since the 70s. Humans have introduced over 37,000 alien species to new habitats, and more than 3,500 of these species have had harmful or invasive effects on ecosystems. Invasive species are responsible for around 60% of global extinctions, particularly on islands, where unique wildlife is highly vulnerable.
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