Climate change and invasive non-native species (INNS) are recognised as two of the most pressing global environmental challenges. INNS are defined as species, introduced through human action outside of their native range, that have the ability to spread causing damage to the environment and society. INNS are being introduced into countries at unprecedented rates and those that become invasive threaten biodiversity by decreasing the uniqueness of ecosystems at genetic, functional and taxonomic levels. Islands are particularly vulnerable to biological invasions and INNS are one of the greatest threats to island biodiversity. There are major gaps in baseline knowledge on Invasive Non-Native Species (INNS) globally.
Our aim is to create INNS inventories for each UK Overseas Territory through collation of information from existing sources alongside online recording. The information compiled will underpin modelling frameworks, incorporating climate extremes, to predict arrival and spread of INNS and ultimately supporting improved biodiversity indicators and action. The inventories, consolidated through the Non-Native Species Secretariat, will inform conservation, education, research and disaster recovery plans in response to climate change.
The UK Overseas Territories we are working with are:
- Anguilla
- Ascension Island
- Bermuda
- British Antarctic Territory (BAT)
- British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT)
- British Virgin Islands (BVI)
- Cayman Islands
- Cyprus (Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia)
- Falkland Islands
- Gibraltar
- Montserrat
- Pitcairn
- South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands (SGSSI)
- St Helena
- Tristan da Cunha
- Turks and Caicos