October 29, 2025
Data Shows Endangered Palau Ground Doves Swiftly Recovering After Successful Palauan Island Conservation Effort
Astounding evidence of recovery on Ulong Island in Palau after just one year!
New Study: Invasive Species as Costly as Natural Disasters
A new study in ScienceDirect led by Anna J. Turbelin analyzes biological invasions (invasive species) and natural hazards (storms, floods and wildfires) damage cost data over 1980–2019 and finds that invasion costs are as costly and increased faster over time with harmful impacts to societies and their environments, and human health.
Highlights
- Damage costs from biological invasions and natural hazards are of similar magnitude.
- Global biological invasion costs increased by 702% from 1980–1999 to 2000–2019.
- Invasion costs increased faster than natural hazard damages over time (1980–2019).
Scientists reported that despite invasive species’ massive and rising economic costs, awareness of the severity of biological invasions remains low. Investments in the management of invasions have been vastly underfunded and delayed, causing trillion-dollar impacts that could have been avoided.
A study in Conservation Biology from April 2023 quantified the economic costs of invasive alien species on islands — and the immense benefits of preventing and removing them. Removing invasive species from islands has an 88% success rate restoring biodiversity and ecological health.
Here are some ways you can help stop the spread of invasive species.
Want to learn more?
Check out other journal entries we think you might be interested in.
October 26, 2025
Global Study Reveals Seabirds as Critical Connectors Between Islands, the Ocean, and People
A new study shows the power of seabirds to drive entire ecosystems by circulating nutrients between land and sea!
August 28, 2025
Half a Decade of Biodiversity Wins on Lord Howe Island
A new paper reveals the benefits of holistic restoration on Australia's Lord Howe Island!
August 14, 2025
How Island Restoration Supercharges Coral Reef Health
A new scientific paper reveals how seabird-derived nutrients can rebalance the relationship between turf algae and herbivorous fish, ultimately helping coral reefs thrive!
July 22, 2025
Rare Gecko Species Rediscovered in Galapagos Following Island Restoration Success
A species once thought extinct just made its comeback. A study published in PLOS ONE confirms the Leaf-toed Gecko has been rediscovered on Rábida Island in the Galápagos.
May 19, 2025
UNOC 3 Position Paper
Read our position paper on The 3rd United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC 3) to see why we're attending and what we aim to accomplish!
January 15, 2025
We’re Joining the Global Rewilding Alliance!
We're joining the Global Rewilding Alliance, a network of environmental organizations around the world!
January 13, 2025
New Science Shows Importance of Islands for Plant Biodiversity
How do islands support the world's plant biodiversity? A new study in Nature reveals just how important islands are for plants around the world.
December 9, 2024
New Paper Demonstrates Quality of eDNA Monitoring for Conservation
Groundbreaking research has the potential to transform the way we monitor invasive species on islands!
December 4, 2024
The Ebiil Society: Champions of Palau
Ann Singeo, founder of our partner organization the Ebiil Society, shares her vision for a thriving Palau and a flourishing world of indigenous science!