Economic loss of ecosystem services caused by yellow flag iris and white ginger lily, two invasive alien plants in natural ecosystems of Argentina

• Published in: Journal for nature conservation 2025-03, Vol.84, Article 126789
• Main Authors: Zilio, Mariana I., Sánchez Restrepo, Andrés F., Gervazoni, Paula, Minuti, Gianmarco, Muzón, Javier, Djeddour, Djamila, Mc Kay, Fernando, Sosa, Alejandro
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biodiversity policy; Biological invasions; Economic impact; Invasive alien plants
• ISSN: 1617-1381
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jnc.2024.126789

•Iris pseudacorus and Hedychium coronarium invade natural habitats in Argentina.•Value transfer methodology was used to estimate ecosystem services value loss.•Value transfer can improve the benefit-cost analysis and guide weed biocontrol target selection.•The current loss of ES value is USD 697–5,300 million due to I. pseudacorus and 44–215 million per year due to H. coronarium. Invasive alien plants are responsible not only for the loss of biodiversity, but also for causing direct and indirect damage to productive activities. Iris pseudacorus L. (Iridaceae) and Hedychium coronarium J. Koenig (Zingiberales: Zingiberaceae) are currently invading different biomes of Argentina. This work estimates the economic loss of ecosystem services due to such invasion processes, using value transfer methodology for their current distribution. We determined the affectation degree for different ecosystem services (pollination, biological control, habitat refugia, regulation of water flows, erosion prevention, genetic diversity and cognitive information) in four biomes (coastal systems, inland wetlands, freshwater lakes and rivers and tropical forest) where these invasive alien plants are present. We found a current estimated loss of ecosystem services value that ranges from USD 697 to USD 5,300 million and USD 44 to USD 215 million per year for I. pseudacorus and H. coronarium respectively, using ecological niche model suitability values above 0.8 and 0.6. Given this, we encourage that economic losses in ecosystem service values ​​due to invasive plants be estimated more often and incorporated into the decision-making process to prioritize weed management strategies, including biological control.