@article{fdi:010082643,
  title = {{T}he economic costs of biological invasions in {A}frica : a growing but neglected threat ?},
  author = {{D}iagne, {C}. and {T}urbelin, {A}. {J}. and {M}oodley, {D}. and {N}ovoa, {A}. and {L}eroy, {B}. and {A}ngulo, {E}. and {A}damjy, {T}asnime and {D}ia, {C}akm and {T}aheri, {A}. and {T}ambo, {J}. and {D}obigny, {G}authier and {C}ourchamp, {F}.},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{B}iological invasions can dramatically impact natural ecosystems and human societies. {H}owever, although knowledge of the economic impacts of biological invasions provides crucial insights for efficient management and policy, reliable syntheses are still lacking. {T}his is particularly true for low income countries where economic resources are insufficient to control the effects of invasions. {I}n this study, we relied on the recently developed "{I}nva{C}ost" database - the most comprehensive repository on the monetised impacts of invasive alien species worldwide - to produce the first synthesis of economic costs of biological invasions on the {A}frican continent. {W}e found that the reported costs of invasions ranged between {US}$ 18.2 billion and {US}$ 78.9 billion between 1970 and 2020. {T}his represents a massive, yet highly underestimated economic burden for {A}frican countries. {M}ore alarmingly, these costs are exponentially increasing over time, without any signs of abatement in the near future. {T}he reported costs were mostly driven by damage caused by invaders rather than expenses incurred for management. {T}his trend was highly skewed towards a few regions (i.e. {S}outhern and {E}astern {A}frica) and activity sectors (i.e. agriculture) and incurred by a small number of invasive taxa (i.e. mainly three insect pests: {C}hilo partellus, {T}uta absoluta, {S}podoptera frugiperda). {W}e also highlight crucial, large gaps in current knowledge on the economic costs of invasions that still need to be bridged with more widespread research effort and management actions across the continent. {F}inally, our study provides support for developing and implementing preventive measures as well as integrated post-invasion management actions at both national and regional levels. {C}onsidering the complex societal and economic realities in {A}frican countries, the currently neglected problem of biological invasions should become a priority for sustainable development.},
  keywords = {{A}frica ; agriculture ; biological invasions ; damage ; economic costs ; {I}nva{C}ost ; management ; {AFRIQUE}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{N}eobiota},
  volume = {67},
  numero = {},
  pages = {11--51},
  ISSN = {1619-0033},
  year = {2021},
  DOI = {10.3897/neobiota.67.59132},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010082643},
}