The United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development covers 17 goals, the 15th of which is “Life on Land,” namely: Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss.

Under this major goal, there are 12 targets, the 15.8 of which is “By 2020, introduce measures to prevent the introduction and significantly reduce the impact of invasive alien species on land and water ecosystems and control or eradicate the priority species.”

Image source: International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)

Alien or non-native species are animals, plants or other organisms introduced by humans, either intentionally or accidentally, into areas outside their natural range. Some of these species become established and negatively impact native biodiversity. These species are classified as invasive alien species (IAS).

Due to the increase in the movement of people and goods around the world, and with new trade routes opening and enhanced transportation, the number of species being introduced into new areas is rising. A 2017 study in the journal Nature Communications found that over one third of introductions in the past 200 years occurred after 1970.

According to The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species, IAS are one of the top causes of biodiversity loss and the second most common cause of species extinctions. The brown tree snake (Boiga irregularis), for example, is responsible for the extinction of 10 bird species on the island of Guam where it was introduced in the 1940s. IAS also constitute the most significant threat to natural World Heritage sites, affecting 68 out of 241 sites, according to the IUCN World Heritage Outlook.

IAS impacts go beyond biodiversity and also seriously affect economic activities, livelihoods, food security, and human health and well-being. IAS risk undermining progress towards achieving 10 of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Though the scale of the socio-economic costs associated with IAS is poorly understood, it is estimated that the direct impacts of IAS and their management cost the global economy billions of US dollars annually. It is estimated that IAS cost the EU at least 12.5 billion euros a year, and Australia at least 13.6 billion Australian dollars a year. Invasive alien insects alone, due to their impacts on agriculture and forestry, cost at least US$70 billion a year globally. The global cost of controlling invasive freshwater biofouling animals, such as the zebra and quagga mussels which accumulate on wetted surfaces in electric power generation and water treatment facilities, is estimated at more than US$277 million a year.

Source: International Union for Conservation of Nature

China

Invasive species pose threats to China's ecology and economy

AquaBioTech Group is an international consulting company, undertaking a variety of aquaculture, fisheries, and aquatic environmental projects through its regional offices and selected partners throughout the world.

AutonoMous Bio-mimetic Underwater vehicLe for digitAl cage moNiToring (AMBULANT) has an intention to create a biomimetic robot with an intelligent monitoring system for identifying seabed habitats, as well as fish and their biomass in aquaculture. This would be a transformation and upgrade of traditional aquaculture, as the technologies used until now put distress on the living organisms because of their frightening appearance, loud noise and poor concealment. Biomimetic, in this case, means it will physically appear and move as a fish.

These robots have high efficiency, high practicality and low disturbance towards fish stocks. They will support environmental protection of commercially important species and detect endangered and invasive species. In aquaculture, it will improve fish welfare and monitoring of risk factor, reduce inefficiency in the farming process, as well as further develop monitoring technology, which will lead to economic growth.

One goal of AMBULANT is to develop and construct an automated benthic detection and identification system of key marine features (endangered species, invasive species, benthos type, lost or damaged maritime infrastructure) through machine learning, machine vision prototypes and artificial neural networks.

Source: AquaBioTech Group

Image source: Global Invasive Species Database

The Global Invasive Species Database (GISD) is a free, online searchable source of information about alien and invasive species that negatively impact biodiversity. The GISD aims to increase public awareness about invasive species and to facilitate effective prevention and management activities by disseminating specialist’s knowledge and experience to a broad global audience. It focuses on invasive alien species that threaten native biodiversity and natural areas and covers taxonomic groups from micro-organisms to animals and plants.

The Global Invasive Species Database (GISD) is managed by the Invasive Species Specialist Group (ISSG) of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Species Survival Commission. It was developed between 1998 and 2000 as part of the global initiative on invasive species led by the erstwhile Global Invasive Species Programme (GISP).

Source: Global Invasive Species Database

The Nature Conservancy (TNC), founded in 1951, is one of the largest non-profit environmental conservation organizations in the world. It has been dedicated to protecting ecologically important lands and waters globally, preserving natural environments, and enhancing human well-being.

In 2021, with the support from the Swire Trust, Marine Conservation Enhancement Fund (MCEF) and local community partners, TNC launched a new project: Managing Pak Nai’s Ecologically Important Habitats to Preserve its Natural Beauty and Sensitive Biodiversity.

In Hong Kong, Pak Nai is an ecological hotspot where endangered horseshoe crab and seagrass species can be found. However, Pak Nai is currently statutorily unprotected and unmanaged, leaving it exposed to increasing threats such as unsustainable tourism and rampant spreading of invasive species.

The following are the contents of the project:

1. To conduct scientific research and ecological monitoring such as sediment research, habitat mappings and horseshoe crab monitoring;

2. To carry out active conservation management work such as reconfiguring abandoned oyster farms, removal of invasive cordgrass and clearing of aquaculture debris and marine litter;

3. To promote sustainable tourism behavior and increase public awareness of oyster reefs through school sharing, public talks, educational tours, university ambassador trainings, educational panels set-up and community meetings with local stakeholders.

As of November 2022, TNC and volunteers have restored more than 2200 square meters of abandoned oyster farms, removed 1200 square meters of invasive cordgrass pitches and removed 600kg of aquaculture debris and marine litter in Pak Nai.

Source: The Nature Conservancy

Yantian District of Shenzhen holds Ecological Day promotional event

●Background

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) initiated by the United Nations

On January 1, 2016, the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including 169 targets, of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development — adopted by world leaders in September 2015 at an historic UN Summit — officially came into force. Countries will mobilize efforts to end forms of poverty, fight inequalities and tackle climate change while ensuring that no one is left behind.