INVAHEALTH

Global human health costs from biological invasions

 

© James D. Gathany

Biological invasions are a major component of global change. They have important ecological, socio-economic, and health consequences, including the spread of diseases, severe allergies, and impacts on mental and physical well-being. The monetary quantification of these impacts is an effective way to alert policymakers and stakeholders, and contributing to the co-design of sustainable solutions. While the recent, open-access InvaCost database provides a comprehensive overview of monetary costs associated with invasive species, health-related costs remain underrepresented.

To address this gap, the INVAHEALTH database aims to categorize and quantify the specific impacts of biological invasions on human health. It will be based on a framework including an eco-epidemiological component detailing various mechanisms affecting health and an economic component assessing cost distribution among stakeholders. This resource will facilitate future research, inform science-based policies, and contribute to better human health outcomes by preventing and addressing invasion-driven impacts, while promoting biodiversity conservation and ecological integrity.

Members of the INVAHEALTH project at their first workshop at CESAB in October 2024.