The HUN-REN Ecological Research Center has published a booklet on the spread and management of invasive species

The natural heritage of the Carpathian Basin is not only an outstanding value to be preserved in its own right, but also the foundation of our everyday quality of life. However, this heritage is increasingly threatened by the massive and continuous emergence and spread of non-native, invasive species.

We cannot fully prevent this process—globalization, trade, and intense human mobility make this impossible. At the same time, invasions are not necessarily uncontrollable. The rate of spread can be slowed, and the impacts mitigated, which gives nature and society time to adapt. This “buying time” is crucial: without it, neither ecosystems nor human systems can develop effective responses.

This buying of time is aided by the nearly 60-page educational publication New Species, New Challenges – The Spread of Invasive Species and Management Options in Hungary, published under the auspices of the HUN-REN Ecological Research Center and within the framework of the Invasion Biology Division of the National Laboratory for Health Security. This visually striking publication, richly illustrated with photos and explanatory graphics while maintaining scientific rigor, details the stages of the invasion process—from introduction through establishment and spread to the point of becoming widespread. It also highlights that an invasion is not a single event, but a series of interrelated stages, where early detection and rapid intervention are of critical importance.

The volume also presents a dozen non-native and invasive species already present in Hungary, ranging from common milkweed to snakehead fish and nutria, in addition to those mentioned in the introduction. In this way, it illustrates the risks and possible responses through concrete examples.

The conceptual framework of the publication is provided by the One Biosecurity concept. This approach is based on the premise that the health of humans, farmed animals, cultivated plants, and nature are inseparable. The impacts of invasive species extend far beyond the traditional concerns of nature conservation. Some species cause significant crop losses, others threaten livestock farming, or facilitate the spread of new pathogens and diseases—meaning they can pose ecological, economic, and public health risks simultaneously. The volume also highlights that managing invasive species is a complex social learning process in which experts in the natural and social sciences, decision-makers, farmers, and every single citizen have a role to play.

The aim of the publication New Species, New Challenges is therefore not only to disseminate knowledge but also to encourage dialogue and lay the groundwork for coordinated, long-term action against invasive species.

The publication is available online on the HUN-REN Ecological Research Center website. Additional content is available for those interested in the topic on the Invasion Biology Division’s Virtual Bookshelf. The volume will also be published in print soon.