Subjects of justice: rethinking invasive weeds through multispecies justice

Invasive species are widely posited as a major threat to native biodiversity worldwide. However, in urban and post-industrial environments, invasive species often contribute to the formation of novel ecosystems that support critical ecosystem services for Earths others. Despite this, current management approaches typically prioritise control and eradication, with little regard for local ecological contexts or the functional roles invasive species play. As a result, the removal of certain invasive species from urban environments can lead to a reduction in both functional and species diversity. We argue that a multi-species justice (MSJ) framework offers a productive way to engage with the complexity, uncertainty, and contested values surrounding invasive species by extending justice. Using an urban green space case study, we propose MSJ as a way of managing the tensions between nativeness and invasion. We invite a rethinking of how nativeness and flourishing are understood and enacted in shared urban environments.