In the framework of the National Invasive Species Week, from February 23 to 27, the National Commission for the Knowledge and Use of Biodiversity (CONABIO) issued an urgent call to halt the expansion of exotic organisms that disrupt the environmental balance.
Currently, Mexico records about 2,000 introduced species from other territories. Of that total, around 500 are already considered invasive due to the damage they cause to ecosystems, productive activities, and public health.
Although many arrived through commercial activities or as pets, their uncontrolled spread generates cumulative impacts. Therefore, prevention is positioned as the most effective strategy against a phenomenon difficult to reverse.
An environmental problem with high economic cost
Invasive species are organisms transported outside their natural habitat that manage to establish and reproduce, displacing the native flora and fauna. Consequently, they modify food chains, alter soils, and affect essential ecosystem services.
Once established in a territory, their eradication becomes complex and costly. Globally, the economic impacts are estimated at 423 billion dollars annually, while in Mexico, the accumulated losses between 1992 and 2019 exceeded 5.3 billion dollars.
Besides the financial impact, the environmental deterioration implies less availability of fishery, agricultural, and forestry resources. Thus, the issue transcends the ecological and directly impacts local communities.
The visible faces of the invasion in the country
Among the most critical cases is the Devil Fish (Plecostomus), initially detected in Guerrero in 1995. Since then, it has colonized rivers in the south and southeast, displacing commercial species and reducing aquatic biodiversity.
Likewise, the Monk Parakeet, introduced as a pet, has spread in various cities. Their communal nests, which can weigh up to a ton, cause damage to infrastructure and compete with local birds for food and space.
Most of these species enter through the pet trade, ornamental plants, and productive activities. Therefore, individual decisions directly influence the magnitude of the problem.
The danger of invasive species and the citizen’s role
Invasive species represent one of the main causes of biodiversity loss worldwide. By displacing native organisms, they reduce the resilience of ecosystems against climate change and other environmental stress factors.
Additionally, they can transmit diseases, affect crops, and alter water bodies. These combined effects weaken natural systems that sustain life and the regional economy.
In this scenario, the CONABIO promotes the use of the EncicloVida platform to identify and report species. It also recommends not releasing pets into wild environments, opting for native plants in gardening, and informing oneself before acquiring exotic specimens. Thus, collective action becomes a key tool to protect the country’s natural heritage.
