Biodiversity data sharing platforms are vital for the management and prevention of biological invasions

Abstract Ethical and effective data sharing is essential for best-practice, evidence-based invasive species management. While the tools and willingness to use data sharing platforms are increasing within the environmental research community, there remains a clear need among invasive species managers and practitioners to engage with knowledge-sharing databases. Here we call attention to the positive outcomes of information exchange for invasive species management, and urge researchers to actively lead and participate in efforts to empower natural resource managers to overcome barriers to data sharing. We highlight that the technology and standards are already available to enable widespread uptake of data sharing platforms, close the “knowing-doing gap” and minimise the potential for biological invasions into the future– we now need to work together as a scientific community to utilise these resources.