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Lookup NU author(s): Dr Meera Inglis
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).
This article calls for an end to the use of the term ‘invasive species’, both in the scientific and public discourse on wildlife conservation. There are two broad reasons for this: the first problem with the invasive species narrative is that this demonisation of ‘invasives’ is morally wrong, particularly because it usually results in the unjust killing of the animals in question. Following on from this, the second problem is that the narrative is also incoherent, both from scientific and philosophical perspectives. At the heart of both of these issues is the problem that the invasive species narrative oversimplifies what are in fact very complex biological processes. As a result, the policies carried out with the stated aim of ‘controlling’ these animals are often unethical. In light of the current global species decline, this article asserts that the way we think and talk about these animals should be changed and the term ‘invasive species’ should be discontinued, in the hope that this leads to changes in practice.
Author(s): Inglis MI
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: Journal of Agricultural and Environmental Ethics
Year: 2020
Volume: 33
Pages: 299-313
Print publication date: 08/04/2020
Online publication date: 07/03/2020
Acceptance date: 22/02/2020
Date deposited: 19/03/2020
ISSN (print): 1187-7863
ISSN (electronic): 1573-322X
Publisher: Springer
URL: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10806-020-09825-0
DOI: 10.1007/s10806-020-09825-0
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