What are invasive non-native species?

Over 2,000 plants and animals have been introduced to Britain from all over the world by people. These are known as non-native species.

Most are harmless but around 10-15% become invasive non-native species which spread and have a harmful impact. Invasive non-native species:

• are one of the top five drivers of global biodiversity loss
• threaten the survival of native wildlife and damage our natural ecosystems
• cost the British economy nearly £2 billion a year
• can even harm our health and interfere with activities we enjoy 

What is planned for the week?

Throughout the week you may attend one of the daily webinars on a variety of topics:

Monday 20th May

• NNSS webinar: 13:00-13:45. Introduction to Invasive Species Week. With Professor Helen Roy (UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology) and Lucy Cornwell (NNSS). Find out more and register to attend. 

Tuesday 21st May

• NNSS webinar: 12:00-12:45. Using eDNA to detect invasive non-native species. With Dr Lori Lawson-Handley, University of Hull. Find out more and register to attend. 
• NNSS webinar: 13:00-13:45. INNS surveillance and rapid eradication in Scotland. With Stan Whitaker, NatureScot. Find out more and register to attend. 

Wednesday 22nd May

• NNSS webinar: 13:00-13:45. Non-native Species Inspectorate update. With Courtney Graham and Zoe Golding, Non-native Species Inspectorate, APHA. Find out more and register to attend. 

Thursday 23rd May

• NNSS webinar: 15:00-16:00. Invasive non-native species impacts and response on the island of Anguilla. With Anguilla Government and Anguilla National Trust. Find out more and register to attend.

Friday 24th May

• NNSS webinar: 13:00-13:45. Supporting local action on invasive non-native species: INNS Mapper and the Floating Pennywort Strategy. With Yorkshire Wildlife Trust and the Environment Agency. Find out more and register to attend. 

Saturday 25th May 

• NNSS Event: from 09:00. Pop up awareness raising stand at York Museum Gardens. Registration not required. 

Lots of other organisations are hosting events and activities throughout the week, view the list of events taking place for details of some of these.

Find out more about Invasive Species Week and how to take part on their website.