Global framework for communication of biological invasion risks

Management of Biological Invasions
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Abstract

Biological invasions, driven by the spread of non-native species, have become a critical global issue because of their far-reaching ecological and socioeconomic impacts. Effective communication of the risks of biological invasions is essential for implementing robust policy and legislation and gaining public support for conservation efforts. However, current policies often suffer from fragmentation and ineffectiveness, largely due to inadequate risk communication and complex multilevel governance. To address this challenge, we develop a global framework designed to enhance clearer communication about biological invasion risks. The framework contextualizes key terms across three domains in invasion science: species invasiveness, risk analysis, and decision support tools. Using both diffusion-of-English and ecology-of-language paradigms, and following a three-step process involving preliminary consensus, AI querying, and ground-truthing with final consensus, we validate the framework in 70 non-English languages which, together with English, have official status in at least one country and collectively cover all 195 countries worldwide. Our findings reveal that while terminology for risk analysis is well established, terminology for species invasiveness and, especially, for decision support tools remains underdeveloped in many languages, hindering effective communication and policy implementation. Our framework underscores the importance of cultural and political neutrality. By promoting clearer risk communication among scientists, policymakers, and the public globally, we aim to reduce policy fragmentation and foster enhanced collaboration in risk mitigation. We recommend expanding multilingual decision support tools to include the full risk analysis process: risk identification, risk assessment, and risk management. This will support intergovernmental mitigation efforts and promote a unified global response to biological invasions.

Suggested Citation

Vilizzi, L., Suresh, V.R., Giannetto, D., Hill, J.E., Daniel, W., Monteiro, J.G., Edsman, L., Elmi, H.S., Awale, A.I., Najafi-Majd, E., Mammadov, R., Andriyono, S., Djumanto, Azmai, M.N., Saba, A., Stroil, B.K., Adrović, A., Vila-Gispert, A., Boix, D., Kopecký, O., Pavlu, V., Milošević, D., Caković, D., Holbech, H., Lundgreen, K., Lukas, J., Ahnelt, H., Linnamägi, M., Rohtla, M., Almeida, D., Mendoza, R., Gilles, A.S., Pavia, R.T., Knudsen, E., Hansen, L.J., Goulletquer, P., Curd, A., Špelić, I., Jónsson, J.E., Thráinsson, H., Boggero, A., Pupins, M., Škute, A., Petrulaitis, L., Jukonienė, I., Herczeg, G., Ferincz, Á., Verreycken, H., Leuven, R.S., Malmstrøm, M., Velle, G., Makhkamov, T., Yuldashev, A., Pietraszewski, D., Marszał, L., Canning-Clode, J., de Camargo, M.P., Preda, C., Memedemin, D., Bakiu, R., Bakiu, S., Švolíková, K.S., Števove, B., Duniš, L., Kristan, P., Simonović, P., Dekić, R., Puntila-Dodd, R., Jauni, M., Olsson, K.H., Ta, K.A., Bui, T.D., Yoğurtçuoğlu, B., Ağdamar, S., Yuldashov, B., Khydyrov, P., Vardakas, L., Koutsikos, N., Perdikaris, C., Lukashanets, D., Borodin, O., Uzunova, E., Dashinov, D., Lazkov, G., Ganybaeva, M., Ualiyeva, D., Zharmukhametova, R., Ristovska, M., Cvetkovska Gjorgjievska, A., Ganbaatar, B., Khadbaatar, S., Panov, V.E., Marenkov, O., Saidov, N., Okhonniyozov, M., Kvach, Y., Yuryshynets, V., Arakelyan, M., Khachatryan, H., Mumladze, L., Japoshvili, B., Pickholtz, R., Gavriel, T., Atique, U., Altaf, M., Iqbal, S., Al-Wazzan, Z., Chebaane, S., Hamdard, M.H., Osmani, A.R., Moghaddas, S.D., Javidpour, J., Nashath, M., Abdullah, F., Sharma, H.P., Shrestha, B.B., Vibhakaran, V., Galib, S.M., Gofur Khan, M.A., Epa, U.P., Cassim, N., De Zoysa, M., Chaichana, R., Kanongdate, K., Chan, N., Ko Ko, L.M., Dorji, J., Dorji, C., Inkhavilay, K., Somvongsa, C., Soben, K., Nida, Y., Tesfay, Y.B., Dullo, B.W., Oh, C., Park, Y., Li, S., Wei, H., Koyama, A., Isobe, A., and Piria, M., 2026, Global framework for communication of biological invasion risks: Management of Biological Invasions, v. 17, no. 1, p. 1-33, https://doi.org/10.3391/mbi.2026.17.1.01.

Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Global framework for communication of biological invasion risks
Series title Management of Biological Invasions
DOI 10.3391/mbi.2026.17.1.01
Volume 17
Issue 1
Publication Date January 26, 2026
Year Published 2026
Language English
Publisher Regional Euro-Asian Biological Invasions Centre (REABIC)
Contributing office(s) Wetland and Aquatic Research Center
Description 33 p.
First page 1
Last page 33
Additional publication details