VENKATASUBRAMANIAN. “New Global Trade Route Could Shuttle Invasive Species.” Recent Articles | Air Pollution | The Scientist Magazine®, The Scientist Magazine, Feb. 2019, www.the-scientist.com/news-opinion/new-global-trade-route-could-shuttle-invasive-species-65487.

China has developed an infrastructure project in 2013 to strengthen its global trade that is scheduled for completion in 2022. Named BRI, or Belt and Road Initiative will reach over half the planet as a “network of overland corridors and maritime shipping lanes.” However, this poses a huge risk of introductions of invasive species, especially vertebrate, insect and pathogen species. This new trade route will hit 77% of the world’s biodiversity hotspots, and this is a big issue as new species settling in whichever area has the most suitable climate will bring forth devastating economic and environmental impacts.

Many researchers have developed many contentions against this trade route and have stated that simply throwing more money at the issue will not solve the issue, pointing at Australia as an example. I believe that if this project is to continue to develop a lot more effort needs to be made in terms of regulating these ships, cleaning them, and informing the staff and ports of the threat of invasive species so they can carry out the appropriate precautions. Extensive efforts must be made to prevent further threats of invasive species as increased human activity is what’s bring it about.