Wallach et al. (2019) propose including all non-native species when determining species richness, distribution, and threat status for biodiversity management and conservation purposes. Although contesting prevailing conservation paradigms is a useful way to critically examine and refine practice and policy, we argue that their proposal would lead to an artificial inflation in species counts and downplay the harm
some non-native species cause to native species, human livelihoods, culture, and safety. Their approach, therefore, risks poor outcomes for conservation and society.
