– ABOUT

Invasive plants and animals Initiative

Invasive species are one of the most significant and persistent threats to Australia’s environment, economy and biodiversity. They currently cost the nation an estimated $24.5 billion each year, driven by impacts on agricultural productivity, biosecurity responses, ecosystem restoration and long-term land management. They are the leading driver of species decline, impacting 82% of Australia’s threatened species. Despite decades of investment across Commonwealth and state programs, the challenge continues to intensify as pressures continue to rise due to climate change, increased global connectivity and the emergence of new invasion pathways.

Current management approaches, including mechanical, chemical and biological approaches, are limited by critical knowledge gaps in species biology, population dynamics and invasion pathways. These gaps reduce the precision and effectiveness of interventions, leading to overreliance on chemical controls that can lead to resistance and unintended environmental impacts. A key limitation underpinning these challenges is the lack of comprehensive, high-quality biological reference data to support accurate identification, development and application of targeted management strategies.  

The Invasive Plants and Animals Initiative will accelerate the coordinated development of reference genomes and population-scale genomic datasets for Australia’s priority invasive plant and animal species. These data will enable earlier detection, improved pathway tracking, and more precise, cost-effective control strategies. This coordinated national effort will equip researchers, biosecurity officers and land managers with the biological data needed to reduce the impact of invasive species on Australia’s native and productive ecosystems.