ENVIRONMENTAL INVADERS

A cursory glimpse at a pressing international problem.

A short introduction and five short chapters support the idea of invasive species being “among the most significant” of humanity’s 21st-century challenges. The opening grabs readers’ attention with the example of the spotted lanternfly, a Southeast Asian insect that appeared in North America in 2014. Currie explains that all invasive species were introduced by people, whether accidentally or intentionally. The bland, accessible text offers details about how invasive species have destabilized ecosystems, caused extinctions of native species, and damaged human health, recreation, and economic well-being. It notes that the spread of species like the potato and the dingo to new environments was mostly benign until the European exploration from the 1400s onward and the acceleration of human travel by the mid-1800s. Despite reiterating the global nature of the problem, the author unfortunately accentuates the impact of scary, invasive species from the Global South. A lone sidebar states that raccoons are “troublesome” in parts of Asia and Europe, and the book similarly describes North American ragweed as being “troublesome” worldwide. These mentions contrast with the alarming presentation of the impact of Burmese pythons in Florida and the framing of Asian kudzu as “the vine that ate the South.” The final chapter, “Dealing With Invasive Species,” covers prevention and eradication strategies (like incorporating Asian carp and nutria into the American diet), ending on a hopeful note.

An adequate starting point for further learning.