There are more than 3,000 alien species threatening Italian ecosystems, with a cost to the national economy estimated at more than 1 billion euros. The alarming figure makes action to counter the invasion of these species and the effects of climate change on transitional environments, such as lagoons and coastal areas, even more urgent. The invasion of alien species has a significant impact not only on the environment, but also on the economy. According to Professor Michele Mistri, of the Department of Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Agricultural Sciences at the University of Ferrara, "The economic costs caused by alien species in Italy are over a billion euros, as they range from management costs, loss of production, and even damage to infrastructure."
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