last-chance tourism

Arctic warming and the rising threat of invasive plant species

Rapid warming in the Arctic is weakening natural climatic barriers such as extreme cold, permafrost stability, and short growing seasons, making the region increasingly suitable for non-native plant species. At the same time, expanding human activities including shipping, tourism, research, and infrastructure are increasing the risk of accidental species introduction. Studies indicate that thousands of alien plants could potentially establish in the region, particularly in emerging hotspots such as Alaska, Greenland, Iceland, and Fennoscandia. These invasions threaten slow-growing tundra vegetation, alter soil nutrients and carbon cycles, and disrupt fragile Arctic food webs. Together, climate change and rising human access are transforming the Arctic from a naturally protected ecosystem into a high-risk frontier for biological invasions, highlighting the need for strong biosecurity, monitoring, and ecosystem-based management.