New South Wales Government

Department of

Environment and Climate Change

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You are here: Home > Climate change > What is climate change? > Climate change impacts > Understanding the impacts in NSW > Invasive species

Invasive species

Invasive species are the second greatest cause of world biodiversity loss and in NSW. Invasive animals alone are identified as threatening 14 of Australia's 15 World Heritage Areas and 13 of 15 "Biodiversity Hotspots". A NSW specific study showed that invasive plants affected 648 threatened species. Such impacts are likely to increase as a result of climate change.

 

DECC is undertaking research that will

• develop a priority list of alien species, both plants and animals (including invertebrates) with the potential to become invasive as a result of changing climates, with particular emphasis on NSW
• model the likely impacts of changing climates on invasive species, as determined in the priority list (noting that the number of which will be dependent on number of species on the priority list)
• provide information for future decision making processes with respect to the management of such species and future climate change.