Nearly all of Israel's ecosystems are losing biological diversity according to a State Comptroller report released Tuesday.
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"Around 89% of ecosystems in Israel have declined in terms of biodiversity," according to the report.
The report criticized the lack of any government plan to deal with this decline, including the failure to compile a blacklist of potentially harmful and invasive species.
"For many years, hundreds and even more invasive species have become established in Israel, causing damage to humans and the environment, including economic damage," the report said.
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"The State Comptroller's report on invasive species should worry anyone and everyone who cares about Israel's natural world," Blue and White MK Alon Tal said in response to the report, according to The Jerusalem Post.
"The report confirms our darkest fears: Invasive species compete with and ultimately supplant the natural flora and fauna of the land of Israel. Israel makes almost no effort to prevent the phenomenon," Tal said.
According to the report, over 400 invasive marine species have been identified near the coast of Israel, and over 100 planet nurseries have been infected with the fire ant – listed as one of the 100 invasive alien species that most threatens the environment and biodiversity by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature.
i24NEWS contributed to this report.
