Why We Spend $432 Billion on Invasive Species Each Year

Nearly two months after catastrophic wildfires swept through Lahaina, Maui county, officials finally cleared residents to visit what remained of their community on September 25th. As investigations into the causes of the blaze continue, an unassuming culprit has emerged: dry, invasive alien grasses.

Invasive species are a humanity-wide issue. A major UN-backed report published in September found that invasive alien species cost the world $432 billion annually, a price tag expected to continue rising exponentially after quadrupling every decade since the 1970s.

The main problem with invasive species, according to the report, is their “contribution to the unparalleled degree of deterioration of the biosphere”, directly causing 16% of global extinctions while indirectly causing another 44%. In the midst of the world’s sixth mass extinction event, the ecosystems thrown into chaos will cause us to face dire consequences.

Of invasive species’ $432 billion annual cost, food insecurity accounts for the vast majority–66%. Harm to human health, livelihoods, and water security make up the rest. Beyond the emotionless language of the report, however, is the human suffering these numbers truly show: invasive species cause staggering starvation, disease, and poverty. Once again, the world’s most vulnerable peoples — residents of regions already struggling with food insecurity, for example, or marginalized indigenous communities — bear the brunt of the costs of a global issue.

I know this sounds pretty grim. After all, we’re so used to pessimism, this idea of it all being too late, especially when it comes to the climate. But have hope. I was surprised at the optimism in the UN report: scientists think this is a battle we can win.

At the local level, the UN report stresses the participation of local communities in both prevention and eradication of invasive species. In our towns around Middlesex, there are plenty of opportunities for both.

Just recently, on September 23rd, the Acton Conservation Division’s community volunteer cleanup hand-pulled 16,400 invasive water chestnuts from Ice House Pond, four miles from school. Later in the year, the annual garlic mustard cleanup aims to pull out invasive mustard plants before they flower each spring. Techniques for identifying and removing both species can be found at the concordma.gov page for invasive species.

Locally, Middlesex may also be particularly important for the prevention of new invasive species due to our student body from across the US and beyond. My fellow international students should continue to read up on the latest regulations for what we can bring into the US (a particularly good resource is USDA’s dontpackapest.com).

While community involvement is beneficial, it’s important to recognize that we’re not the ones facing the brunt of invasive species’ impact: our weekend weed-pulling won’t solve the invasive species crisis overnight.

The UN report emphasizes that prevention of further spread will require greater intergovernmental cooperation. A total of 83 percent of countries do not currently have national legislation directed specifically towards invasive species, and lack of border biosecurity in one country weakens the efficacy of such measures in whole regions.

The report further stresses the high success rates of historic eradication campaigns, including 88% of eradication attempts on 998 islands in the last century, and the importance of global cooperation in information sharing, especially for programs in developing countries.

Never before has humanity’s relationship with our mother planet been as strained as the century of natural catastrophes we seem to be entering. Invasive species are just one of the five factors derailing our biosphere, along with climate change, land and sea use change, direct exploitation of organisms, and pollution. Even as humanity has collectively brought this war upon ourselves, it feels good to know that the battle with invasive species could mark a rare victory on our long road to sustainability.

Yang, Zichuan (David)