Biological Invasions: A Growing Burden on Health and Finances

Recognized as one of the five major drivers of biodiversity change globally by the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES),1 biological invasions are a major and increasing challenge to biodiversity in today’s world. In addition to numerous ecological impacts, biological invasions also profoundly affect human, animal, and plant health. The health consequences extend well beyond infectious diseases, which are often the focus for evaluations of the impacts of these invasions. They also impact environmental quality, overall wellbeing among exposed populations, and the resilience of the ecosystems concerned.2 This article provides a summary of current knowledge concerning the health implications of biological invasions, with a particular emphasis on their multidimensional nature and possible solutions for limiting them.

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journals.openedition.org/factsreports/8395