Global Efforts to Address the Wicked Problem of Invasive Alien Species

Abstract

As the globalization of trade continues to expand, species inevitably have more opportunities to spread. Some are intentionally traded and become established in new ecosystems, thereby potentially changing the functioning of the now-modified ecosystem. Invasive alien species are gaining greater public attention, especially when their spread becomes dramatic and threatens ecosystems that people value. But by the time an invasive alien species becomes a problem, it may be too late to effectively respond. Perhaps worse, some people may welcome the alien species, making it even more difficult to implement eradication or control measures. This can make invasive species a ‘wicked problem’, challenging the building of the consensus necessary to reach a solution. But building public awareness about the impacts of invasive species can help to provide the necessary support, drawing on broad government support through international agreements such as the Convention on Biological Diversity. Practical measures to address the problems posed to native biodiversity (at the level of genes, species, and ecosystems) by invasive species of plants are the subject of active research and practical experience, posing some hope that even a problem as ‘wicked’ as invasive alien species can be successfully addressed.