Invasive species are costing Africa $3.66 trillion a year: study

An invasive species is a type of animal, plant, fungus, or any living thing that arrives in a new environment and poses a threat to the existing species of the environment. CABI scientists have conducted the first comprehensive study on the economic impact of a range of Invasive Alien Species (IAS) on Africa’s agricultural sector, which they estimated to be USD $3.6 trillion a year. This is equivalent to 1.5 times the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of all African countries combined – or similar to that of Germany. The worst affected nations in Africa include Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Humans contribute substantially to the introduction of invasive species in new areas through activities like global commerce and pet trade. Most scientists agree that thwarting the effects of invasive species needs to start with preventing their introduction in the first place.