COUNTRIES around the world have declared war on non-native species. At a
meeting of the United Nations Biodiversity Convention in Montreal this week, 180
nations agreed to a raft of guidelines to stop alien species wreaking havoc on
native wildlife.
Alien invaders are the second biggest threat to wild species after habitat
loss, the UN Environment Programme told the meeting. Invaders such as ruddy
ducks, rats and mesquite bushes have eaten or out-competed native species,
introduced diseases, or swamped natives by inter-breeding. UNEP says invading
species threaten 20 per cent of the world’s freshwater fish with extinction.
Now delegates to…
