Plant Invasions in Nepal: What We Do Not Know?

Invasive alien species are increasing over the globe in the Anthropocene era, with a range of negative impacts on biodiversity, ecological processes, production systems, and human well-being. Several factors have made the problems of invasive plants worse in Nepal, as shown by the fact that new invasive plants are continuing to be identified and that existing species are expanding their ranges in new areas, causing various social and environmental impacts. There are insufficient specific and dedicated policy instruments to address the issue of invasive species. However, some of Nepal’s plans and strategies linked to biodiversity have identified invasive species as a risk to natural ecosystems and biodiversity and listed different ways to prevent and control them. But only a small number of these plans and strategies have been put into action. Low policy and management responses could have been caused by a number of issues, and gaps in data and understanding could be major reasons. Based on the authors’ experiences and a narrative review of literature, we have identified ten key areas where relevant data and knowledge are either not available or not complete enough to make decisions. The following areas encompass various aspects of research: introduction pathways, the assessment of invasion risk posed by introduced species, the examination of functional trait variation, the study of ecological impacts, the evaluation of impacts on nature’s contribution to people, the analysis of economic costs associated with invasions, the investigation of biological control agents, the exploration of options for ecological restoration, the examination of patterns across different geographic and climatic conditions, and the study of nonflowering alien plants. Prioritizing these topics for future research can aid Nepal’s policymakers and administrators in making knowledgeable choices in relation to preventing and controlling invasive species.