Study Finds Invasive Species Cause Greater Environmental Damage in Global South

A new Science study published in July shows that invasive alien species inflict more severe environmental impacts in the Global South than in the Global North. Using an average‑impact severity metric rather than species counts, researchers found that the same invasive species tend to cause larger damage in poorer countries, a pattern driven by weak governance and limited management capacity. The study challenges the long‑standing assumption that wealthier nations suffer the worst effects of invasives, revealing that uneven reporting has obscured the true scale of harm in the Global South. The findings call for stronger policy and resource allocation to curb invasive species in vulnerable regions.