Invasive Species

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Invasive Species are plants and animals from other regions in the world which have the capacity to proliferate if introduced and cause ecological damage. They are one of the top threats to global biodiversity and the greatest threat to fragile ecosystems such as islands. As well as having a significant impact on the environment Invasive Species also have significant negative impacts on the economy and human health.

Invasive Species continues to be an important area of focus across the BIC’s Member Administrations due to the collective, diverse and growing threats to the natural environments of these islands posed by species such as the grey squirrel, muntjac deer, Asian hornets (Yellow Legged Hornets) and Japanese knotweed.

Information sharing and collaboration to mitigate the impacts of Invasive Species has been a focus of the BIC since 2012, originally the Invasive Non-Native Species and Asian Hornet Taskforce subgroups.

At the Environment Ministerial in Kew Gardens, London, on Thursday 8 May 2025, Minister’s agreed to combine and elevate the Invasive Non-Native Species and Asian Hornet Taskforce subgroups into a separate Invasive Species Work Sector, led by the UK Government.

Lead Administration and Current Focus

The Invasive Species Work Sector is led by the UK Government and the Animal and Plant Health Agency.

The current Work Sector Plan (2025 – 2027), which was agreed at the Environment Ministerial on Thursday 8 May 2025 set out the priority areas the Work Sector will explore.