Global health. The current scenario and future perspectives

74 and urge people not to acquire/consume such products. These campaigns demonstrate the ability of environmental groups to organize activists worldwide through the Internet and influence policies at national and international level, which, in itself, is another characteristic of globalization. The problems faced by animals in a globalized economy exemplify the issues that repeatedly arise throughout this section. Regarding international trade in animals, governments have agreed on an international treaty to cover the legal trade in animals, but illegal trade remains profitable, and national protection of animals within countries’ borders has so far escaped international concern. Invasive species (also known as exotic or non-native species) have been defined as “species whose establishment or expansion threatens ecosystems, habitats or species by being capable of causing harm to one or more components of the ecosystem”. Exotic species are plants, animals and microorganisms accidentally or intentionally introduced by humans into an area where they do not naturally appear. When introduced into a new habitat where they are able to survive, these species quickly dominate the natural wildlife and cause loss of biodiversity and imbalances in the ecosystem. The increase in travel, migration and international trade has made it difficult to manage these exotic species and has led to a large number of species entering societies. Farmers and fishermen in developing countries, who depend on the survival of their crops, incur costs due to damage caused by invasive insects or plants that harm their products. The US Forest Service reported that invasive plant species cover over 40 million hectares, which forces farmers to spend billions on pesticides and results in an annual loss of USD 34.7 billion in agricultural productivity and wildlife. In Chile, examples such as the European bumblebee, acacia trees (aromos), beavers and the yellow jacket wasp have affected the country by causing damage to native species and economic costs for agriculture and other activities such as tourism. According to the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), the total annual cost of invasive species to the global economy is USD 1.4 trillion, which limits the UN Millennium Development Goals on poverty. The recognition of the importance of biodiversity for the planet’s global health came with the creation of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). The CBD has been signed by 195 states, including all UN member countries, except for the United States and the European Union. Chile has also been a party to this convention since 1995. The CBD establishes three main objectives: the conservation of biodiversity, the sustainable use of its