It highlights a looming wave of new extinctions and outlines two futures for Australia — one based on an unsustainable ‘business as usual’ approach and the other based on implementing targeted actions that will help save our unique biodiversity.
The report pegs the conservative cost of damage caused by invasive species in Australia — predominantly weeds, feral cats, rabbits and fire ants — at $390 billion over the past six decades and around $25 billion a year and growing.
More than eight in 10 nationally-listed threatened species are endangered by invasive species. More than 70 per cent of Australia’s native animals are found nowhere else on earth, so a loss to Australia is a loss to the world.
Invasive species also undermine agriculture, leading to increased food and fibre prices.
Launched by Australia’s national science agency CSIRO and Centre for Invasive Species Solutions, the report highlights the need for emerging biosecurity technologies to be fast tracked and for the urgent development of new techniques to prevent, eradicate and control invasive pests.
Report co-author and CSIRO scientist Andy Sheppard said while many Australians were aware of the havoc caused by the recent mouse plagues in NSW, Queensland and Victoria, they had no idea of the magnitude of the invasive species issue for Australia.
“Urgent, decisive, co-ordinated action is crucial to stopping the spread of invasive species and to protect our extraordinary, irreplaceable native animals and plants, and Australia has a great track record in this space,” Dr Sheppard said.
“It is the only way to stop the spread of invasive species, protect native plants and animals and preserve many of our favourite Australian outdoor pastimes.”
Dr Sheppard said many more smart decisions and interventions were needed to ensure resources were invested where they were most effective.
“Prevention will be much cheaper and more effective than trying to control the spread of pests and weeds once they are established.
“We need to safely harness emerging technologies, revitalise our biosecurity research and innovation system and continue to invest in long-term, strategic research and development.”
Globally, invasive species are ranked as the fifth greatest issue facing the environment, but in Australia it’s the number one issue. Australia has the highest rate of vertebrate mammal extinctions in the world.
Co-author and Centre for Invasive Species Solutions chief executive Andreas Glanznig said invasive species had contributed to the extinction of 79 Australian native species,.
The single biggest vertebrate menace to native species is European rabbits, which infest two-thirds of Australia, followed by feral cats, pigs, foxes and cane toads.
The report recommends Australia increase its focus on breakthrough solutions to major ferals — rodents, feral cats and pigs — within the next 30 years.
