Biological invasions are as costly as natural hazards

• DOI: 10.1016/j.pecon.2023.03.002
• Publication Date: 2023-03-29T11:54:42Z
• Authors: Anna J. Turbelin; Ross N. Cuthbert; Franz Essl; Phillip J. Haubrock; Anthony Ricciardi; Franck Courchamp
• Keywords: Natural hazard; Biological hazard; Leverage (statistics)

Natural hazards — such as storms, floods, and wildfires can be disastrous phenomena so biological invasions, for which impacts are often irrevocable insidious. Yet, invasion awareness remains low compared to natural hazards, investments manage invasions remain vastly underfunded delayed. Here, we quantified costs relative raise political leverage. Analysing damage cost data over 1980–2019, economic losses from were of similar magnitude (e.g., $1,208.0 bn against $1,913.6 storms $1,139.4 earthquakes). Alarmingly, increased faster than time. Similar impact magnitudes growth rates urge commensurate recognition, coordination action towards in policies.