Chair: Emily Smith, Angling Trust
Link: Ellie Ward, Policy and Information Coordinator
Our report, Prevention is Better than Cure: A Diagnosis on the state of UK Invasive Species Biosecurity, calls on Government to increase the budget for invasive species biosecurity from £1 million to £6 million per year to fund greater specialist capacity, strategic control and a dedicated inspectorate for invasive species. We estimate that this additional investment would save the UK economy £2.7 billion by 2040 – a return on investment of £23 for every £1 spent.
23 organisations and individuals, including environmental charities, water and construction companies, and Members of Parliament, wrote to HM Treasury Minister Kemi Badenoch in support of the report’s recommendations.
The story – including a newly released list of the top ten most high risk invasive species to the UK – was covered extensively in national and regional press including the Times and the Daily Mirror.
In March 2021, the group worked alongside Link's Animal Welfare group to respond to the EFRA Inquiry into Moving Animals Across Borders, highlighting the need for increased capacity and resources to identify and inspect invasive species.
For further information, contact Ellie Ward, Link’s Policy and Information Coordinator.
Last updated: 26 March 2021
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