Midway through the term of the 2011–2020 strategic plan of the Convention of Biological Diversity, the conservation of nature is at an important turning point. One of the most significant threats to biodiversity is the increasing number of invasive species and their global impacts on other species, ecosystems and biodiversity goods. This book provides an overview of patterns of invasions and the most effective responses, with a particular focus on policy measures to prevent the arrival of invasive species and mitigate their negative effects.

The volume is structured in four sections: the first explores the facets of biological invasions, providing a synthesis of the biological basis of invasions, addressing the perceptions of different sectors of society, and discussing the most effective communication strategies; the second focuses on the introduction phase of invasions, providing data on importation patterns of living organisms for commercial purposes, and exploring economic aspects; the third analyses the management of invasive species, reporting example cases and describing various approaches; and the final section focuses on policy responses, presenting reviews of the US and European frameworks.

The book originates from a congress held in Chicago in 2011 and generally has a North American perspective, but it does report cases from other regions, from the competitive exclusion of the European red squirrel by the introduced American grey to the invasion of Australia by the cane toad. One merit of the book is that all examples are discussed from a multidisciplinary perspective. This approach is reflected in the list of authors, which includes economists, legal experts and policy and communication professionals. There is particular attention to policy, and the book discusses key aspects of the management of invasions, including analyses of risk assessment procedures and the pillars of a regulatory approach for invasive species, and the development of a European legal framework, with a detailed analysis of the decisions that led to the adoption of a European Regulation on invasive species, which entered into force in January 2015 after the completion of this volume.

Finally, the editors draw general conclusions and propose recommendations for decision makers. They explain that the struggle against invasive species is based on the robust evidence that non-native species are more harmful than native organisms, and that ‘science reaffirms species origin as a valid, pragmatic, and relevant basis for invasive species policy’. They also stress that invasive species policy needs unifying and propose a bioethical basis to guide action.

This excellent book examines a complex issue, helping bridge the gap between policy and science, and steering global action against invasive species based on a synthesis of the relevant disciplines. The final paragraph stresses that although we have the knowledge and tools to alter the patterns and impacts of invasions, to progress we need to address the principal challenges, which are cultural rather than technical.