Biological invasions and their potential economic costs in Morocco.

ABSTRACT: Biological invasions pose substantial economic threats globally, yet detailed cost assessments for many Global South nations, especially in Africa, remain scarce. This study presents the first comprehensive breakdown of the potential economic costs of biological invasions in Morocco. We identified 343 invasive alien species, comprising approximately 1.11% of the country's biodiversity. Using the InvaCost database, we retrieved cost estimates for 137 species with available records. We calculated the mean annual cost per species, adjusted these values both socio-economically (using World Bank Purchasing Power Parity) and climatically (via Köppen climatic regions), and extrapolated them based on species prevalence in Morocco. This yielded an estimated annual economic impact ranging from US$1.

SUBMITTER: El Jamaai J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12808681 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature