WASHINGTON, Aug 18, 2023 (AFP) – After a catastrophic wildfire that killed more than 100 people in Hawaii, eyes have turned toward an unexpected culprit: invasive grass species that have spread massively over the archipelago for decades, serving as the perfect fuel. Drought-resistant, capable of invading difficult terrain, and gradually muscling out local species, they are also a growing threat in the western United States, where devastating fires are increasing. “Invasive grasses are very ignitable. […]
Tag: Invasive
Invasive insects cause tens of billions in damage: study
by Marlowe HOOD PARIS, France (AFP) — Invasive insects cause at least $77 billion (69 billion euros) in damage every year, according to a study released Tuesday that says this figure is “grossly underestimated” because it covers only a fraction of the globe. Climate change is on track to boost the area affected by nearly 20 percent before mid-century, the authors reported in the journal Nature Communications. Canvassing more than 700 recent scientific studies, researchers […]





