Coordinated action between Ireland and Northern Ireland is being stepped up to address the growing threat posed by invasive species, following the second Shared Island Biosecurity and Invasive Species Stakeholder Forum held in Belfast.

Species such as the Asian hornet, mink and rhododendron ponticum are damaging native wildlife and habitats, threatening biodiversity and causing economic losses across the island.

The forum brought together experts from government, academia and civil society to discuss recent responses and the role of research, monitoring and public engagement in limiting their spread.

Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity Christopher O’Sullivan said invasive species could move freely across landscapes and waterways, requiring coordinated action.

He noted that recent sightings of the Asian hornet in Cork and Belfast underlined the need for joint monitoring and rapid response.

Northern Ireland’s Minister for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Andrew Muir said the challenge required long-term planning and cooperation based on shared evidence and expertise.

The forum is part of a five-year project supported by more than €1.3 million in funding from the Government of Ireland’s Shared Island Initiative, the National Parks and Wildlife Service and the Northern Ireland Environment Agency. The project is led by the National Biodiversity Data Centre with input from both jurisdictions.

The initiative aims to prevent the introduction and spread of invasive species across freshwater, marine and terrestrial ecosystems, strengthen early detection and rapid response systems, and raise public awareness of the risks they pose.

Earlier this year, two Asian hornet nests were successfully removed in Cork, and another was located in Belfast in October. Authorities north and south of the border continue to monitor for any further sightings.