# Study: Invasive species hit India harder than wealthy nations

2026-08-14T15:52:49+00:00 | India | Indian Opinion Desk

Corroboration: 1 independent outlet

A new study in the journal Science finds that invasive alien species cause more severe environmental impacts in the Global South, including India, than in wealthy countries. Researchers used the IUCN's EICAT system to measure average impact severity, correcting for research bias that previously made the Global North seem worse. The study combines two global datasets covering over 3,300 invasive species across 172 countries. India shows a distinctly higher average impact severity compared to large economies in the Global North, the study says. Weak governance and limited management capacity are identified as major drivers of high impact severity in the Global South. The findings challenge the common assumption that wealthy countries bear the brunt of biological invasions.

## Coverage

- india.mongabay.com <https://india.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/08/invasives-impact-in-global-south-needs-more-attention/>

Tags: EICAT, Global South, India, IUCN, science
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