Invasive Species Management and Socio-Ecological Dynamics

Invasive species represent one of the foremost challenges to biodiversity, ecosystem function and human well-being, as they can displace native species, alter habitat structure and impose substantial economic costs. Management approaches span prevention, early detection, rapid response, containment and long-term control, often requiring integration of ecological knowledge with social, economic and governance considerations. The dynamics of invaded landscapes are shaped not only by species’ life-history traits and propagule pressure but also by human behaviour, land-use decisions and policy frameworks. Socio-ecological dynamics emphasise the reciprocal interactions between human communities and ecosystems, recognising that successful interventions depend on stakeholder engagement, collaborative governance, adaptive learning and evaluation of outcomes across ecological, economic and social dimensions. Transdisciplinary research highlights the need for flexible, context-sensitive strategies that reconcile diverse objectives, from safeguarding ecosystem services to accommodating socio-cultural values, and that address the public-good dilemma inherent in collective action for invasive species management.

Research from Nature Portfolio

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Invasive Species Management and Socio-Ecological Dynamics publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in invasive species management and socio-ecological dynamics across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Invasive species: Organisms introduced beyond their native range that establish, spread and cause harm to biodiversity, ecosystem services or human activities.
Socio-ecological system: Integrated complex of ecosystems and human societies with reciprocal feedbacks and co-evolutionary processes.
Ecosystem services: Benefits provided by ecosystems to people, including provisioning, regulating, cultural and supporting services.
Collective action: Cooperative efforts by individuals or groups to manage a shared resource or public-good challenge, often requiring coordination and shared governance.
Stakeholder engagement: Process of involving individuals, communities and organisations with an interest or role in decision-making to enhance legitimacy, knowledge exchange and management outcomes.

References

1. How success is evaluated in collaborative invasive species management: A systematic review. Journal of Environmental Management (2023).
2. Towards a holistic understanding of non-native tree impacts on ecosystem services: A review of Acacia, Eucalyptus and Pinus in Africa. Ecosystem Services (2023).
3. How people perceive invasion impacts: Is there a match between policymakers and stakeholders?. Environmental and Sustainability Indicators (2025).