Maria Åkesson: Review the risks of invasive species in your value chain
Parkslide is an invasive plant that can spread quickly and displace other species in the wild.
Invasive alien species are one of five direct causes of biodiversity loss - and the problem is growing at an alarming rate. This is according to a comprehensive research review by IPBES presented today.
- "All companies have a responsibility to be aware of the risks of invasive species in their value chain," says Ecogain's environmental expert Maria Åkesson.
Maria Åkesson, environmental expert at Ecogain.
IPBES warns that the dramatic spread of invasive species risks getting even worse in the future. The spread can occur, for example, through direct exploitation of land and water, through the transportation of goods and commodities, or through the movement of soil and rock materials. The cost of fighting invasive species is high and the global price tag is increasing every year.
- The earlier you detect and control invasive species, the cheaper it will be - but you have to make sure you do it right, otherwise you risk exacerbating the problem. Working preventively with invasive species is the most cost-effective approach.
The right actions can slow down invasive species
In its report, IPBES stresses that the growth of invasive alien species can be slowed down by taking the right actions in both the short and long term. The efforts of different actors in society - and cooperation between them - will be a key factor in effectively reducing the spread of invasive species.
A proposal for a national list of invasive alien species is currently on the government's table. If the list goes through, it means that several species will be subject to the same regulations as the EU's listed species already are.
- Companies that are already reviewing the risks in their value chain will be one step ahead. It is an economically wise investment," says Maria Åkesson.
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IPBES is an acronym for the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, and is the biodiversity equivalent of the UN climate panel.
Here you can read the report
