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<p>The evidence that invasive species are having an ever greater impact on biodiversity,
globally and domestically, is undeniable. The 2019 Environmental Audit Committe report,
developed using a wide range of evidence sources, highlighted the risks these species
pose to native biodiversity. It also called for greater levels of prevention, management,
control and public awareness regarding invasive species and their negative effects
on the environment.</p><p> </p><p>Defra is also in receipt of the 2019 UN global assessment
report on biodiversity which concluded that “the numbers of invasive species per country
have risen by around 70 per cent since 1970” and that “invasive non-native species
have contributed to 40 per cent of the animal extinctions that have happened in the
last 400 years and are the biggest threat to biodiversity on islands”. Defra is aware
that the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services
global assessment report on biodiversity and ecosystem services found that invasive
species were one of the top five direct drivers for changes to nature and were included
in a list with climate change and pollution.</p><p> </p><p>Reports such as “The Economic
Cost of Invasive Non-Native Species on Great Britain” remain highly relevant, as the
impact of invasive non-native species (INNS) has not decreased since the report was
published. Defra recently however commissioned a scoping study aimed at documenting
the current evidence in relation to the ecosystem service impacts of INNS in the UK.
This study[1] sought to determine the feasibility of expanding on the 2010 report
by estimating natural capital costs incurred by INNS, alongside the direct economic
costs which the 2010 report focused upon.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>[1]
Scoping study: ecosystem services and natural capital costs of invasive non-native
species in the UK - BE0162 <a href="http://randd.defra.gov.uk/Default.aspx?Menu=Menu&Module=More&Location=None&Completed=1&ProjectID=20315"
target="_blank">http://randd.defra.gov.uk/Default.aspx?Menu=Menu&Module=More&Location=None&Completed=1&ProjectID=20315</a></p>
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