Over 1,270 alien species, some of which are invasive, have been recorded in Cyprus, according to surveys by the Royal Air Force (RAF) Health Unit in Cyprus, while an international report by the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services notes that in combination with climate change and urbanisation, invasive species can have a particularly devastating impact on the island’s biodiversity and natural protected areas, or even lead to the extinction of endemic species that are unique to Cyprus.
According to a press release from the Cyprus Institute, the same study points out that the global cost of the impact of invasive species is estimated at 423 billion dollars per year and is expected to continue to increase four times per decade, while invasive alien species are the main cause of the extinction of 60% of the world’s animals and plants.
The international report of the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), entitled “Invasive Alien Species and their Control”, was prepared with the participation of 86 researchers from 49 countries, including Dr. Angeliki Martinou, an entomologist at the Royal Air Force (RAF) Health Unit at Akrotiri, and a research associate at the Cyprus Institute’s Centre of Excellence for Climate and Atmospheric Research (CARE-C).
It is noted that alien-invasive or invasive species, as referred to in the study, are organisms that are transported to new locations outside their natural range, unintentionally or intentionally, through human activities.
There are an estimated 37,000 alien species worldwide, of which around 3,500 are invasive, and the introduction of these invasive species into new areas has negative impact on the biodiversity of the area concerned, as well as on ecosystem services, sustainable development, and human health.
As reported, according to surveys by the Royal Air Force (RAF) Health Unit, around 1270 alien species have been recorded in Cyprus, some of which are invasive (https://ris-ky.info/cydas).
According to the press release, special emphasis should be placed on studying the impact of invasive species, as in combination with climate change and urbanisation, they can have a particularly devastating impact on the island’s biodiversity and natural protected areas, or even lead to the extinction of endemic species that are unique to Cyprus.
It is noted that better information of citizens and their involvement in the documentation of invasive species is extremely important as prevention and early detection is usually the only way to successfully combat them.
It is stated that for more information on the study, interested parties can visit the following website: https://www.ipbes.net/IASmediarelease?fbclid=IwAR2ZxDcsLsv5fWvC-gHcf-G0Vub-0RVCR_NAtHp-AvSvz15PBhw4KvGEjac
Source: Cyprus News Agency