Exotic/Invasive Species Invasive species are nonnative plants and animals introduced to an area that cause harm to the native species and biodiversity. Species that are not native to an area can cause significant damage to native species by competing with them for space or food, or by altering predation and population rates. Nonnative invasive species are usually introduced because of some type of human activity. Compared to other threats to biodiversity, invasive introduced species rank second only to habitat destruction. Invasive species are a major threat to our environment because they can: Alter habitats by changing their makeup, placing ecosystems at risk Crowd out or replace native species Damage human enterprise, such as fisheries, costing the economy millions of dollars. Of all endangered or threatened species in the United States, over 40 percent are listed because of the impact of introduced species.  Introduced invasive species are a greater threat to native biodiversity than pollution, overharvest, and disease combined.  These biological invasions produce severe, often irreversible impacts on ecosystems, agriculture and recreation. As stewards of God’s creation it is part of our task to set boundaries that will contain invasive species. Individual creatures and the Earth as a whole have integrity as created by God. However, when we disturb the balance created by God we have the responsibility to fix that disruption. We are obligated to respect the intrinsic value of ecosystems function, which is altered when nonnative plants are introduced. We should make serious efforts to fix the problems that are caused in ecosystems when invasive species threaten the integrity of the Creation. More Information: National Invasive Species Information Center Biodiversity Partnership The Nature Conservancy More about Loss of Biodiversity Destruction of Habitat Overharvesting Pollution NCC Biodiversity Home NCC Loss in Biodiversity Home