South Africa's regulating authorities need to improve their measures to prevent alien species which can become pests in the agricultural sector from crossing our borders and causing damage.

Then play your part! According to Steve Chown, scientist at the Centre of Invasion Biology at Stellenbosch University, we can still change the future of our earth. He spoke during a series of lectures at the Stellenbosch University as part of the Year of Biodiversity.

I don't like to spread bad news ' I prefer to inspire people. But some things need to be said, else we are simply keeping our heads in the  sand. The hard truth can also be liberating ' and it seems we need  liberation from our own ways. Something everyone needs to know is what impact humans have had on our planet's biodiversity over the past 40 years. What happened to other species due to our consumption patterns?