Invasive Alien Species (IAS)
Why it Matters?
The surge in global trade since the 1800s has led to a 20-fold rise in alien species by the early 19th century, with over 34,000 trade pairs by the 2000s—accelerating biological invasions in both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems and causing India $127.3 billion in losses, second only to the U.S.
What You Should Know?
Invasive alien species are non-native plants, animals, or pathogens that enter new ecosystems and often cause serious harm to the environment, economy, or even human health.
These species threaten biodiversity by outcompeting native species, preying on them, or spreading new diseases.
They have become one of the biggest global threats to ecosystems, impacting almost every type of natural habitat.
According to the Convention on Biological Diversity 2006, invasive species have played a role in nearly 40% of known animal extinctions since the 17th century.
Their presence also worsens poverty in developing countries by damaging agriculture, fisheries, forestry, and other natural resources that people depend on.
Climate change, pollution, habitat destruction, and human activities only make the invasive species problem more severe.
Examples of IAS: Invasive Alien Plants:
Parthenium hysterophorus (Parthenium)
Pistia stratiotes (Water lettuce)
Pueraria montana var. lobata (Kudzu vine)
Prosopis juliflora (Mesquite)
Salvinia molesta (Giant salvinia)
Invasive Alien Animals:
Gambusia spp. (Mosquitofish)
Poecilia reticulata (Guppy)
Trachemys scripta elegans (Red-eared slider turtle)
Xenopus laevis (African clawed frog)
Vespa velutina (Yellow-legged Asian hornet)