The Great Britain (GB) Invasive Non-native Species (INNS) Strategy was first published in 2008 and updated in 2015. The refreshed Strategy, “The Great Britain Invasive Non-Native Species Strategy: 2023 to 2030” sets out an ambitious platform for future work on INNS, taking account of the recommendations of a review undertaken in 2020/21.
The refreshed Strategy provides a framework within which the actions of Defra, Scottish Government and Welsh Government, agencies and external partners can be better co-ordinated to deliver the most effective response to preventing, eradicating and managing invasive non-native species. It aims to take greater account of the increased risks posed by invasive non-native species as a result of climate change.
Strategy review, development and implementation
An independent review of the existing 2015 Strategy was commissioned in 2020. The findings of this review, which were published in January 2021, have informed the development of the refreshed Strategy. The overarching aim of the Strategy is to minimise the risk of introduction and establishment and reduce the negative impacts of invasive non-native species in GB through a strong partnership approach. The new Strategy continues to follow the CBD hierarchical approach, which emphasises prevention, followed by early detection and rapid response, and finally long-term management and control.
An implementation plan will be put in place in order to identify key leads and contributors for the delivery of each key action and to help monitor delivery and review success in achieving the key outcomes.
Strategy scope
The Strategy covers INNS in the terrestrial, freshwater, and marine environments and also species native to one part of a country that become invasive in areas outside their natural range. The term ‘non-native species’ (NNS) is used throughout and is the equivalent of ‘alien species’ (as used by the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)) and ‘non-indigenous species’ (as used by the OSPAR Commission and the UK Marine Strategy); it refers to a species intentionally or unintentionally introduced outside its native range by human actions. An ‘invasive non-native species’ (INNS) is any non-native animal or plant that has the ability to spread causing damage to the environment, the economy, our health, or the way we live.
The scope of the Strategy covers all NNS of flora and fauna with the exception of genetically modified organisms (GMOs), bacteria and viruses. Its full effect, however, is aimed at those NNS that are known to be or are potentially invasive. The Strategy does not aim to address issues related to formerly native species, nor does it cover animal or plant diseases covered by other biosecurity regimes, although it does aim to ensure close working with these areas where appropriate. The Strategy complements other existing national and regional species-specific plans and strategies including those on deer management, grey squirrel management and floating pennywort.
The Strategy is available on the GB Non-Native Species Secretariat website.
Data on the NBN Atlas
You can search for non native species by name or by dataset (e.g. non native species) on the NBN Atlas to view or download (subject to licence conditions) the information we hold.