Episode 14: Europe's Most Wanted - what is the impact of invasive animal & plant species on our nature?

A Halloween ecological ‘thriller’?

They arrive uninvited, terrorise, outcompete native species and cost our nature dearly.

They are the ultimate 'body snatchers' of our ecosystems. The Asian hornet, (Vespa velutina) is one of 114 invasive species listed by the European Union. It has spread quickly across many European countries and poses a direct threat to native insect species, including key pollinators.

How concerned should we be about invasive animal and plant species? What about their impacts on our nature?

In this episode we sit down with our nature experts Christina Baritaki and Brian MacSharry as well as students from the Danish School of Media and Journalism (DMJX) to discuss the impacts and challenges and actions the EU is taking against these invaders.