IHT: Hitchhiking species a threat worldwide

Yes, yes they are. So everyone remember -- never pick up a hitchhiker. Especially if he's not human.

Hamdullah Zedan, executive secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity, said that a more effective international system to prevent bio-invasions is urgently needed.

More international cooperation is needed. But I get the idea that what Mr. Zedan would like is some sort of giant UN bureaucracy which would have inspectors allowed to go just about everywhere and look for invasive species and generally be annoying and violate privacy whenever. I don't know that for sure, but I suspect it.