CEBRA is developing a tool to make it easier to make evidence-based eradication decisions.
Invasive pests and diseases that spread into new areas can be harmful to agriculture, the environment, and human health. When an invasion of a pest or disease is first discovered, decision makers must determine the how far the outbreak has spread as quickly as possible so they can implement an effective response. Eradication—as opposed to containment, impact reduction, or mitigation—is often preferred as management costs and impacts come to an end once the invasive species is no longer present. However, eradication may not always be feasible or cost-efficient.
Three main types of feasibility factor into deciding to eradicate: socioeconomic, economic, and technical. This project investigates technical feasibility, which takes into account:
- factual knowledge about the biology of the invasive species
- how easily detected it is if present in an area
- how effective methods to control it are
- the extent and accessibility of incursions.
CEBRA will review existing tools to assess whether they are fit for purpose to inform technical feasibility of eradication decisions during an incursion response. A workshop will give stakeholders the opportunity to give feedback to help identify barriers and opportunities for uptake. A new and improved decision support tool will be developed based on findings of the review.
CEBRA Project Leader: James Camac