Invasive alien plant species: A call to action

Invasive alien plant species (IAPS) are the greatest problem that most rangelands face, causing massive ecological and economic damage by reducing biodiversity, livestock forage, and increasing fire risks, creating millions of dollars in management costs and economic losses reducing livestock grazing capacity by over 50%. They often spread rapidly and create "novel ecosystems," making it difficult or impossible for the land to return to its original state, causing persistent, long-term degradation.

Addressing IAPS in rangelands requires a shift toward unified, preventive, and collaborative global strategies that integrate local pastoral knowledge with international policy. We need strengthened legal frameworks, better integration of IAPS into rangeland degradation dialogues and pledges, standardized IAPS management lists, stronger international collaboration and cooperation, and practical and sustainable management integration.

This film visually presents these issues, as well as sharing some of the solutions being practiced. The film was shared at the UNCCD COP17, Mongolia, August 2026, where a global call for action was launched. If you would like some more information on the global call to action to address invasive plant species in rangelands, please follow this link: https://bit.ly/4cNuXma?r=qr