Biological invasions: The Unseen Threat

Climate & Environment

Franck Courchamp

Ecologist and Research Director at the CNRS Institute AXA Chair in Invasion Biology at the University of Paris-Saclay

We have all heard about climate change.

Pollution, habitat destruction, overfishing and deforestation. You will also be aware of these environmental threats.

But have you ever heard of biological invasions? These pose a major threat to our environment, but one that remains under most people’s radar. I'm talking here about invasive alien species: plants and animals of every kind from distant countries that, once established in a new territory, wreak havoc on local ecosystems.

With Dr. Franck Courchamp, discover what we can do collectively to combat this little-known threat. Because you also have the opportunity to play a decisive role.

What you will learn

What are these so called “invasive species”
How their spread is threatening our ecosystems
The financial impact of biological invations
What we can do to reverse the course of invasions

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The masterclass in 3 main chapters

Chapter 1

The explosion of biological invasions

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What do we actually mean by “invasive species”?

Despite natural barriers, such as oceans, deserts, mountains or simply vast distances, almost any plant or animal can now be introduced anywhere on the planet in the space of a few days...or even a few hours.

Wherever your living, your country currently has biological invasions that originated in other countries. Just as certain species from your country have invaded some territories.

Chapter 2

The triple threat of invasions

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What is the problem with species traveling from elsewhere and establishing themselves in new territories?

The threat of biological invasions is, in fact, multifaceted and impacts us, as humans, far more than we realize: biologically, health-wise and economically.

Chapter 3

Reversing the course of invasions

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Fighting against biological invasions can often feel counterintuitive, as it involves taking action against living organisms to protect biodiversity.

Yet, to safeguard the unique biodiversity of affected areas, it is sometimes crucial to completely eradicate invasive exotic species and there are effective methods available to do so.