Invasive plant species pose a significant threat to ecosystem functions. They contribute to the reduction of biodiversity and affect the carbon storage capacities of ecosystems and their resilience to climate change. As international trade increases and temperature and precipitation regimes are expected to change, the ability of invasive plant species to reach and colonise new habitats, especially in temperate regions, is expected to increase.

In Germany, a number of at least 80 alien plant species are considered to be significant or potential threats to biodiversity, raising concerns about appropriate measures against their spread. In the case of widespread invasive plant species, appropriate control measures are only considered effective locally, for example when species or habitats worthy of special protection are directly threatened by the negative impact of an invasive species. Monitoring measures (surveillance of spread) therefore play a crucial role in preventing the spread of invasive plants with the aim of detecting unintentional introductions as quickly as possible so that appropriate control measures can be taken at an early stage.