The Environment Ministry on Friday outlined the need for a new system to curb the negative effects of alien species that have the potential to ravage Japan's natural environment and biodiversity.
This conclusion is featured in a set of policy guidelines put together by a panel of wildlife experts tasked with developing a systematic method of dealing with new invasive species, as well as a growing population of unwelcome residents.
The latter include at least 108 mammals and vertebrates, 256 insect and 1,553 alien plant species.
The guidelines outline a framework that divides species into indigenous species, foreign species, established foreign species and introduced species.
It also features measures ranging from monitoring and database creation to the early detection of new invasive species and their eradication, depending on the animal and the threat it poses.