Policy paper

Invasive non-native species Environment Act target delivery plan

Published 1 December 2025

Applies to England

Statutory Environment Act targets 

Preventing the establishment of invasive non-native species (INNS) will support and contribute towards 3 of our statutory Environment Act targets. By reducing the risk of new harmful species taking hold, we can ease the pressure on native species and their habitats, helping to prevent further biodiversity loss. 

The interim target contributes to the following statutory targets: 

• halt the decline in species abundance by 2030 

• increase species abundance so that by 2042 it is greater than in 2022 and at least 10% greater than in 2030 

• improve the Red List Index for England for species extinction by 2042 compared to 2022 levels 

Interim target 

• reduce the rate of establishment of invasive non-native species (INNS) by at least 50% by December 2030, compared to 2000 levels 

Rationale for the interim target: why and how it will progress delivery of the Environment Act target 

Reducing the establishment rate of INNS will help deliver the statutory species abundance and extinction targets by limiting future pressures on native species, habitats, and water quality. However, due to uncertainty around which INNS may establish in future, and limited data on distribution and impact, we cannot yet quantify this target’s contribution to the statutory Environment Act targets. Improved data and monitoring will be essential to strengthen future assessments. 

We have aligned this new interim target with target 6 of the Convention on Biological Diversity Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. Through it we will reduce the rate at which INNS become established by at least 50% by 2030, using the year 2000 as a baseline. 

By reducing the establishment rate of INNS, we will limit their future impacts on native species and both land and water habitats. The actions we take to manage the pressure on native species from established INNS will also help deliver the statutory species targets and are covered in the wider EIP activities of Goal 1 (restored nature). 

Delivery measures 

Table 1. Summary of delivery measures to support the INNS delivery plan 

Delivery measure	Description	Estimated contribution to the interim targets	Evidence of impact	Responsible	Status
Great Britain Non-native Species Inspectorate (GBNNSI) rapid response and contingency work	The GBNNSI helps to eradicate new INNS and prevent establishment through inspections, horizon scanning and enforcement, including through eradication programmes. We will enable the NNSI to focus on meeting our interim target by ensuring clear prioritisation of action and the maintenance of their capacity and resource through 6-monthly reviews at the GB INNS Programme Board.	Medium high	Through its work the GBNNSI has eradicated 2 invasive species; is overseeing 2 more; and has completed over 3,500 inspections. GBNNSI is estimated to contribute around 60% of the interim target.	APHA (GBNNSI), EA, NE	In delivery
Environment Agency eradication programmes	Eradication programmes for aquatic INNS (for example water primrose, topmouth gudgeon (Pseudorasbora parva)), contributing to prevention of establishment.	Medium low	Environment Agency has already eradicated 3 species (Black Bullhead (Ameiurus melas), Various leaved water milfoil and Fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas)). 25 of 53 known water primrose (Ludwigia grandiflora) sites are believed to have been successfully eradicated. Progress is monitored by EA through their KPI W32-N, with inspections ongoing and reported quarterly, are expected to continue contributing to the interim target through further site-level eradications and containment action.	EA, landowners	In delivery
Great Britain INNS Strategy implementation and pathway management	This will support target delivery through biosecurity actions, pathway risk reduction, stakeholder coordination and behaviour change. A horizon scan is conducted at least every 5 years informing a risk management exercise to identify priority species for contingency responses. The next scan will be completed by end of December 2025. Eradication responses to newly detected INNS will be implemented and monitored through the same review process.	Supports the enabling environment for target delivery. Not quantifiable in isolation.	The strategy supports eradicative response to new species and provides education, identification tools and biosecurity materials. Actions prioritised within the strategy are critical to long-term success of the interim target by focussing work in the highest priority areas.	Defra, APHA, (GB Non-Native Species Secretariat (GBNNSS)), Defra arm’s length bodies.	In delivery

Key milestones 

Key milestones for 2025 include: 

• we will undertake a risk management exercise in 2025 to identify additional priority species to eradicate 

• annual publication of action-based metrics from 2025 onwards, using GB Non-Native Species Information Portal (GBNNSIP) and GBNNSS datasets 

• INNS pathway action plans consultation completed by December 2025 

Key milestones for 2026 include: 

• we will prioritise species identified in the 2025 Great Britain horizon scanning exercise for contingency responses 

• progress on Environment Agency eradication programmes will be reported in quarter 1 of each year 

By December 2030, we will prevent the establishment of at least one invasive non-native species per year (5 by 2030) to meet the 50% reduction target. 

Illustrative trajectory 

Data from 1970 to 2000 indicates that approximately 14 new non-native species established in Great Britain each year. Of these, an estimated 10 to 15% are becoming invasive. This means roughly 2 new invasive species established annually, this forms the baseline for the target. 

To meet the target we need to prevent, on average, at least one INNS from establishing in Great Britain per year over the next 5 years. This 5 year window allows for natural variation in annual data. 

We expect to source data on action taken to prevent establishment from datasets held by GBNNSIP and GBNNSS. 

Modelling work is ongoing to improve estimates of historical and predicted rates of INNS establishment, and we will continue to keep this data under review. 

Key assumptions and caveats 

The target is based on estimated rates of INNS establishment across Great Britain, which are being applied at the England level. This is considered appropriate, as most new INNS establishments in Great Britain occur in England. 

Monitoring and evaluation summary 

An indicator is currently being developed under the Environmental Indicator Framework (H1: Abatement of the number of invasive non-native species entering and establishing against a baseline). It will track how many INNS have been prevented from establishing in Great Britain by comparing predicted establishment rates with actual outcomes. The difference between these 2 trends will indicate the effectiveness of biosecurity measures and could be used to measure the target. 

We are working with the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH) to review and develop this indicator, which is due to be completed in 2025. 

The H1 indicator will use data from the GBNNSIP, which records the establishment status of non-native species across Great Britain. It is expected the indicator could be updated annually to reflect new data. 

Although the H1 indicator will be a useful metric, there will be data lags (particularly in the short term). For this reason, we plan to use the indicator alongside action-based metrics, to track shorter term progress by measuring which species we have prevented from establishing each year.