Topic: 2025-Regulating Invasive Species
Country: Germany
Delegate Name: Mira Jayaraman
Invasive species pose a significant threat to biodiversity, economic stability, and public health. Invasive species are species that disrupt ecosystems and endanger native species. They contribute to habitat destruction, agricultural losses, and more natural disasters. According to the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, the economic cost of invasive species worldwide is estimated at over $1.4 trillion annually.
Although there have been international efforts to combat invasive species (such as the Convention on Biological Diversity, the Ramsar Convention, and the International Maritime Organization’s Ballast Water Management Convention), global trade and climate change continue to accelerate the spread of invasive species. This calls for stronger policies to combat this growing problem.
Germany recognizes invasive species as a threatening environmental challenge and actively works to mitigate their impact. As an EU member state, Germany aligns with the EU Regulation on Invasive Alien Species (2015), which restricts the trade and introduction of harmful species. Germany’s Federal Nature Conservation Act strengthens national policies by enforcing strict monitoring, early detection, and control measures.
Germany also participates in LIFE+, an EU-funded program supporting invasive species management projects, and has implemented national action plans targeting invasive plants like giant hogweed and aquatic species such as the Chinese mitten crab. Internationally, Germany contributes to CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) and funds biodiversity protection through the Global Environment Facility (GEF).
Despite these various programs designed to combat invasive species, Germany strongly believes that there needs to be more policies and strategies to thoroughly erase this threat to the environment, especially in three areas. First, Germany believes that enhancing international biosecurity protocols to prevent the unintentional spread of invasive species will be vital to solving this issue. Next, members of the IUCN should expand early detection systems. This can include establishing a global invasive species database. Finally, Germany encourages all members to contain habitat restoration programs and biological control methods to mitigate damage caused by invasive species.
Germany remains committed to global cooperation in addressing invasive species and urges the IUCN to take action.
Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). “Global Strategy on Invasive Species.”
European Commission (2015). “EU Regulation on Invasive Alien Species.”
Federal Ministry for the Environment (2022). “Germany’s National Biodiversity Strategy.”
IPBES (2019). “The Economic Cost of Invasive Species.”
IUCN (2023). “The Role of IUCN in Combatting Invasive Species.”
LIFE+ Programme (2021). “EU Actions Against Invasive Species.”
