Montserrat Vilà – Globalización de las invasiones biológicas

The intentional or accidental introduction of exotic species by man is a phenomenon that gained magnitude with the European colonization of America and has accelerated as trade, the movement of people and the development of large infrastructures have increased globally.

Many exotic species are capable of establishing, expanding and invading the region of introduction. Many invasive species alter biodiversity and the environmental services provided by ecosystems. They can affect all socioeconomic sectors, from agriculture to tourism to public health.

As with epidemics, strategies to deal with them require improvements in policies and management in prevention and early detection.