Environmental Impact Classification for Alien Taxa (EICAT)
The Environmental Impact Classification for Alien Taxa (EICAT) has, since 2020, served as IUCN’s global standard for assessing the magnitude of environmental impacts of alien species. EICAT provides a standardised and comprehensive framework to evaluate the severity of the environmental impacts caused by alien taxa, including animals, plants, and fungi. This classification is critical for understanding and managing the challenges posed by invasive alien species.
As of now, over 200 species have been evaluated under this system and are featured on the Global Invasive Species Database (GISD). Among these, five species have been classified in the highest impact category—Massive—indicating their devastating and irreversible effects on native species. These are Gallirallus australis (weka), Hyla intermedia (Italian tree frog), Pelophylax bergeri (Italian pool frog), Pitangus sulphuratus (great kiskadee) and Tyto novaehollandiae (Australian masked owl), and they have been found to impact native species by either predation or hybridisation.
The EICAT assessment process is open and accessible to anyone interested in contributing to these efforts. By following the structured set of EICAT Categories and Criteria, in conjunction with the more detailed guidelines, individuals can evaluate the environmental impact of species and submit their assessments. The EICAT Categories and Criteria, initially produced in English, have since been translated into Portuguese and Spanish, making the tool more accessible to a global audience. EICAT assessment submissions and general enquiries can be sent to the EICAT Unit at IUCN and to the EICAT Authority. These will then undergo a review process by the EICAT Authority and approved EICAT assessments undertaken at a global scale are then published in GISD.
With the growing recognition of the role that invasive alien species play in biodiversity loss, the EICAT framework continues to be an invaluable resource for scientists, policymakers, and conservationists striving to mitigate the impacts of these organisms on ecosystems worldwide.
INVASIONS BULLETIN
Databases, Toolkits and Frameworks
Tamryn Venter, Katie Costello, Kevin Smith, Ana Nunes
IUCN, Cambridge (UK)