Inadequate funding and resources from the Government is leaving struggling native British wildlife exposed to major risks from damaging invasive species, warn conservationists today. The warning coincides with Invasive Non-Native Species (INNS) Week (12 – 18 May).
Invasive species are one of the top drivers of native nature loss, playing a major role in over 60% of wildlife extinctions worldwide and contributing to significant declines in British species like water voles, red squirrels and white-clawed crayfish. But new figures via Freedom of Information (FOI) requests to the Animal and Plant Health Agency have shown that less than 1% of the £250m biosecurity budget is spent on invasive species. [1]
Of the £2.47m spent on invasive species biosecurity only around £250,000 (0.9%), goes to local groups who provide vital management of invasive species, this includes removing species from sites such as waterways and woodlands to prevent their spread. A further £22.7m, 3% of the biodiversity spend, goes on tackling invasive species already in the UK. [2]
An exception to this low level of funding around invasive species has been spending on preventing the establishment of Yellow-legged hornets (also known as Asian hornets) in the UK. Over the financial years 2023/2024 and 2024/2025 the National Bee Unit spent £2,236,374.85 on management and control of Yellow-legged hornets. This is compared to total funding from Defra and Apha for local action on wider invasive species of £498,611 over the same period. This level of funding and focussed action has managed to delay the establishment of invasive hornets in the UK when they have already established and spread in many EU countries. [3]
But though this is a big achievement, the spread of the hornet in the EU and pathways into the country via trade mean it is still highly likely to establish here at some point. The high costs of trying to prevent establishment once a harmful species has entered the country, and to manage the harm caused once they do establish, demonstrates the need to give greater border check powers and resourcing to stop these species getting into the UK in the first place. With dozens of further species at high risk of establishing in the UK, such as the Tiger mosquito and Emerald Ash Borer.
Lisa Manning, policy officer at Wildlife and Countryside Link, said: “Invasive species are one of the biggest risks to cherished species from water voles to ladybirds. They also wreak havoc on our waterways and cause damage to businesses, homes and to local parks and other green spaces. But the funding and support from the Government is failing to match the level of this threat. We need more border check powers and resources to prevent new harmful species arriving. And more funding is needed to fight invasive species that have already arrived, so that local groups can stop struggling on an annual basis and take the long-term action needed for nature.”
Gemma Rose, Invasive Non-Native Species Project Manager with North Wales Wildlife Trust, said: “We’re proud of what we’ve achieved in partnership with other organisations, local communities and volunteers to control devastating species including Himalayan balsam. But we’ve so far been unable to secure the necessary funding to continue this crucial work for the 2025 management season and beyond. This is a serious concern, as a single unmanaged Himalayan balsam plant can produce up to 800 seeds. Missing just one year of management would result in an exponential increase in the number of plants in the forthcoming years, undoing a decade's worth of labour and financial investment.”
David Smith, Social Change and Advocacy Manager at Buglife, said: “While the UK has been more successful than many countries in detecting and slowing the spread of Yellow-legged Hornets, we cannot afford to rely on reaction alone. It's far more cost-effective and environmentally sound to strengthen border biosecurity and back UK-grown alternatives, especially when it comes to high-risk imports like plants and soils. With many more invasive invertebrate species on the horizon, such as Chinese Mystery Snails, which can carry harmful parasites, and Asian Longhorn Beetles, which threaten our trees, timber, and fruit industries, there is a growing danger to both wildlife and the economy. We must focus on prevention rather than cure.”
Erin Shott, Advocacy Officer at Plantlife, said: “The UK must get ahead of the spread of invasive species. Plants including invasive Rhododendron ponticum and Giant Blackberry (Rubus armeniacus) are smothering native flora in our most precious habitats like temperate rainforest and species-rich grassland, with species like Floating Pennywort choking rivers and lakes across the country. Local groups and volunteers are putting up a great fight to halt the spread of invasive species. But this action needs further coordination and dedicated funding if we’re to stop further damage to treasured local nature sites and native British wildlife.”
Local Action groups are vital in the fight against damage to native wildlife and impacts for industries such as agriculture, timber, fishing and tourism. Yet the tiny budget for local groups and year-on-year funding insecurity means the UK could be on the losing end of the battle against harm from invasive species in many areas.
Invasive species cause huge damage in a number of ways. They compete with native wildlife for food and even predate them as seen with the decline of species including Water Voles and ground-nesting seabirds due to American Mink. Invasive plants like Japanese Knotweed are also known to cause huge economic damage, while Himalayan Balsam can dominate waterway banks and increase flood risk. The overall economic price tag of invasive species is estimated at around £4 billion per year for the damage they cause to infrastructure, industries such as fishing and forestry, our rivers and other water bodies, and homes. [4]
Wildlife and Countryside Link’s Invasive Non-Native Species Working Group is calling for:
ENDS
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