Increase in invasive species poses dramatic threat to biodiversity – report

Tourism, transport and the climate crisis found to be major drivers of rise in alien plants and animals, which can decimate ecosystems

An increase in the spread of non-native plant and animals species around the world could lead to dramatic biodiversity loss, a new study has found, causing permanent damage to ecosystems as they are pushed past biological tipping points.

The study, published in Global Change Biology, is the result of an expert survey on how likely global trends this century will affect the variety of life on Earth, its ecosystems, and - as a result - the lives of humans. The international team of researchers found that a 20-30% increase in alien species could cause massive global biodiversity loss - a value that is likely to be reached soon, as the number of introduced species is constantly increasing.