scholarly journals Towards estimating the economic cost of invasive alien species to African crop and livestock production

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
René Eschen ◽  
Tim Beale ◽  
J. Miguel Bonnin ◽  
Kate L. Constantine ◽  
Solomon Duah ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alien Species ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Invasive Alien Species ◽  
Economic Losses ◽  
Distribution Data ◽  
Yield Losses ◽  
Management Options ◽  
Labour Costs ◽  
The Cost

Abstract Background Invasive alien species (IAS) cause significant economic losses in all parts of the world. Although IAS are widespread in Africa and cause serious negative impacts on livelihoods as a result of yield losses and increased labour costs associated with IAS management, few data on the impacts are available in the literature and the magnitude and extent of the costs are largely unknown. We estimated the cost of IAS to agriculture, the most important economic sector in Africa. Methods Data on the monetary costs of IAS to mainland Africa as well as information about the presence and abundance of the most important IAS were collected through literature review and an online survey among a wide variety of stakeholders. Using this and additional data from publicly available sources we estimated yield losses and management costs due to IAS in agriculture for individual countries and the entire continent. Where the data allowed, the costs for selected IAS or crops were estimated separately. The estimates were extrapolated using production and distribution data and/or matching of agro-ecological zones. Results The total estimated annual cost of IAS to agriculture in Africa is USD 3.66 Tn. Yield losses, reductions in livestock derived income and IAS management costs, mainly labour costs, constitute the majority of the estimated cost (ca. 1, < 1 and 99 percent, respectively). The IAS causing the highest yield losses were Phthorimaea absoluta (USD 11.4 Bn) and Spodoptera frugiperda (USD 9.4 Bn). Conclusions This study reveals the extent and scale of the economic impacts of IAS in the agricultural sector in one of the least studied continents. Although the cost estimate presented here is significant, IAS also cause major costs to other sectors which could not be assessed due to data deficit. The results highlight the need for pre-emptive management options, such as prevention and early detection and rapid response to reduce huge potential future costs, as well as measures that contribute to large-scale control of widely established IAS at little cost to farmers and other affected land users, to reduce losses and improve livelihoods.

Asymmetric Accountability: An Experimental Investigation of Biases in Evaluations of Governments’ Election Pledges

2019 ◽  
Vol 52 (13-14) ◽  
pp. 2207-2234 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elin Naurin ◽  
Stuart Soroka ◽  
Niels Markwat
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Investigation ◽  
Political Behavior ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Public Support ◽  
Survey Experiments ◽  
The Cost

Governments often fulfill election pledges to remain in power; yet, it is unclear how pledge fulfillment and breakage actually affect public support for government. This article explores the tendency for governments to be penalized for unfulfilled pledges more than they are rewarded for fulfilled pledges. In two large-scale highly realistic online survey experiments ( N = 13,000, 10,000), performed at the beginning and middle of a government’s term in office, respondents are presented with a range of (real) election pledges. We find that broken pledges often are more important to government evaluations than fulfilled pledges, and that pledge fulfillment can produce decreases in support from nonsupporters that more than offset the marginal gains among supporters. Findings provide valuable evidence on asymmetries in political behavior, and a unique account of the “cost of ruling,” the seemingly inevitable tendency for governments to lose support during their time in office.

scholarly journals Analysing global economic costs of invasive alien species with the invacost R package

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Boris Leroy ◽  
Andrew M Kramer ◽  
Anne-Charlotte Vaissière ◽  
Franck Courchamp ◽  
Christophe Diagne
Keyword(s):  
Invasive Species ◽  
Alien Species ◽  
Open Source ◽  
Open Source Software ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Invasive Alien Species ◽  
Standard Procedure ◽  
R Package ◽  
Economic Costs ◽  
Global Database

Aim: Large-scale datasets are becoming increasingly available for macroecological research from different disciplines. However, learning their specific extraction and analytical requirements can become prohibitively time-consuming for researchers. We argue that this issue can be tackled with the provision of methodological frameworks published in open-source software. We illustrate this solution with the invacost R package, an open-source software designed to query and analyse the global database on reported economic costs of invasive alien species, InvaCost. Innovations: First, the invacost package provides updates of this dynamic database directly in the analytical environment R. Second, it helps understand the nature of economic cost data for invasive species, their harmonisation process, and the inherent biases associated with such data. Third, it readily provides complementary methods to query and analyse the costs of invasive species at the global scale, all the while accounting for econometric statistical issues. Main conclusions: This tool will be useful for scientists working on invasive alien species, by (i) facilitating access and use to this multi-disciplinary data resource and (ii) providing a standard procedure which will facilitate reproducibility and comparability of studies, one of the major critics of this topic until now. We discuss how the development of this R package was designed as an enforcement of general recommendations for transparency, reproducibility and comparability of science in the era of big data in ecology.

scholarly journals Species on the move: Stowaways and contaminants cause the greatest economic impacts

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna J Turbelin ◽  
Christophe Diagne ◽  
Emma J Hudgins ◽  
Desika Moodley ◽  
Melina Kourantidou ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alien Species ◽  
Average Cost ◽  
Invasive Alien Species ◽  
Hierarchical Classification ◽  
Introduction Pathways ◽  
Impact Pathways ◽  
Species Invasions ◽  
Spatially Distributed ◽  
Socio Economic Impact ◽  
The Cost

Abstract Introduction pathways play a pivotal role in the success of Invasive Alien Species (IAS) – the subset of alien species that have a negative environmental and/or socio-economic impact. Pathways refer to the fundamental mechanism that leads to the introduction of a species outside of its native range – marking the beginning of all alien species invasions. Increased knowledge of pathways is essential to help reduce the flow and impacts of IAS and ultimately improve their management. Here we use the InvaCost database, a comprehensive repository on the global monetary impacts of invasive alien species, combined with the CBD hierarchical classification of introduction pathways to address four key questions: (i) Are particular IAS introduction pathways economically impactful? (ii) How are costs taxonomically and spatially distributed across pathways? (iii) Are there differences in costs between species introduced intentionally and unintentionally? and (iv) is there a relationship between the number of possible introduction pathways of IAS and their costs? We found first that both the total and average cost of species introduced through ‘Stowaways’ (US$144.9bn; US$89.4m) and ‘Contaminants’ pathways (US$99.3bn; US$158.0m) were more costly than species introduced primarily through ‘Escape’ (US$87.4bn; US$25.4m) and ‘Release’ (US$64.2bn; US$16.4m). Second, insects drove the costs of unintentional introductions whilst mammals drove the costs of intentional introductions; ‘Stowaways’ had the highest costs in Asia, Central America, North America and Diverse/Unspecified regions, whilst Antarctic-Subantarctic and Oceania incurred the greatest costs from species introduced through ‘Release’. Third, the cost of species introduced unintentionally is more than double the cost of species introduced intentionally ($192bn vs. $90bn). Equally, species introduced unintentionally cost more on average than species introduced intentionally in terms of damage, management, and mixed costs. Finally, the total and average cost of IAS was not related to their number of introduction pathways. Our findings provide important material for the targeting of priority pathways - something that will be critical in prioritising limited management budgets to combat the current acceleration of species invasions.

Bioterrorism and the college campus: Student perceptions of emergency preparedness

2009 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 53
Author(s):  
Diane L. Smith, PhD, OTR/L ◽  
Stephen J. Notaro, PhD ◽  
Stephanie A. Smith, MS
Keyword(s):  
Student Perceptions ◽  
Emergency Preparedness ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Cost Benefit ◽  
Emergency Planning ◽  
Student Body ◽  
Perceived Preparedness ◽  
The Cost ◽  
The University

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the current perceptions of college students in regard to the emergency management of bioterrorism.Design: University students enrolled in Community Health courses were recruited to participate in a paper or online survey to determine their perceptions regarding likelihood of a bioterrorist attack, preparedness of the university, and preparedness of the students.Participants: Of the 309 students recruited, 265 (85.9 percent) participated in the survey.Interventions: Data from the surveys were entered into an SPSS dataset for analysis.Main outcome measure: Perceived preparedness of the university for a bioterrorism emergency.Results: Students perceived that there was a low likelihood of a bioterrorist attack at the university. Only 17.6 percent of the students felt that the university was prepared for a large-scale emergency and only 24.1 percent felt that the students were prepared. One third of the students did not know that the university had policies in place for a bioterrorist attack and 88.3 percent did not know where to go for information in the event of a bioterrorist attack. Only 9.2 percent had visited the campus emergency planning Web site.Conclusions: Effort must be made by universities to determine the appropriate amount of education to the students regarding emergency preparedness based on the cost-benefit to the university and the student body. Suggestions from students included a mandatory workshop for incoming freshman, involvement of campus emergency planning with student organizations, and increased marketing of the campus emergency Web site.

scholarly journals The economic costs of biological invasions in Brazil: a first assessment

NeoBiota ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 67 ◽  
pp. 349-374 ◽  
Author(s):  
José Ricardo Pires Adelino ◽  
Gustavo Heringer ◽  
Christophe Diagne ◽  
Franck Courchamp ◽  
Lucas Del Bianco Faria ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Biological Invasions ◽  
Alien Species ◽  
Invasive Alien Species ◽  
Global Environmental Change ◽  
Economic Cost ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Ecological Impacts ◽  
Economic Losses ◽  
Economic Costs ◽  
Economic Sectors

Biological invasions are one of the leading causes of global environmental change and their impacts can affect biodiversity, ecosystem services, human health and the economy. Yet, the understanding on the impacts of invasive alien species is still limited and mostly related to alien species outbreaks and losses in agricultural yield, followed by the understanding of the ecological impacts on natural systems. Notably, the economic impacts of biological invasions have rarely been quantified. Brazil has at least 1214 known alien species from which 460 are recognized as invasive alien species. Still, there are no comprehensive estimates of the cost of their impact and management. Here, we aimed at filling this gap by providing a comprehensive estimate of the economic cost of biological invasions in Brazil. In order to quantify these costs for species, ecosystems and human well-being we used the InvaCost database which is the first global compilation of the economic costs of biological invasions. We found that Brazil reportedly spent a minimum of USD 105.53 billions over 35 years (1984–2019), with an average spent of USD 3.02 (± 9.8) billions per year. Furthermore, USD 104.33 billion were due to damages and losses caused by invaders, whereas only USD 1.19 billion were invested in their management (prevention, control or eradication). We also found that recorded costs were unevenly distributed across ecosystems, and socio-economic sectors, and were rarely evaluated and published. We found that the economic costs with losses and damages were substantially greater than those used for prevention, control or eradication of IAS. Since our data show costs reported in Brazil for only 16 invasive alien species, our estimates are likely a conservative minimum of the actual economic costs of biological invasions in Brazil. Taken together, they indicate that invasive alien species are an important cause of economic losses and that Brazil has mostly opted for paying for the damage incurred by biological invasions rather than investing in preventing them from happening.

scholarly journals The large-scale removal of mammalian invasive alien species in Northern Europe

2016 ◽  
Vol 73 (2) ◽  
pp. 273-279 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter A Robertson ◽  
Tim Adriaens ◽  
Xavier Lambin ◽  
Aileen Mill ◽  
Sugoto Roy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alien Species ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Invasive Alien Species ◽  
Northern Europe ◽  
Scale Removal

scholarly journals Perceptions of alien plants and animals and acceptance of control methods among different societal groups

NeoBiota ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 58 ◽  
pp. 33-54
Author(s):  
Raphael Höbart ◽  
Stefan Schindler ◽  
Franz Essl
Keyword(s):  
Alien Species ◽  
General Public ◽  
Public Perception ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Invasive Alien Species ◽  
Public Support ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Stakeholder Groups ◽  
Lethal Management ◽  
Negative Impacts

Biological invasions are a widespread phenomenon and cause substantial impacts on the natural environment and human livelihoods. Thus, the European Union (EU) recently adopted Regulation No 1143/2014 to limit the negative impacts of invasive alien species (IAS). For implementing IAS management and policies, public support is highly and increasingly important, especially when it comes to charismatic species and lethal methods. Recognising the importance of the interaction of public perception with acceptance of IAS management methods, we used an online survey targeting three different stakeholder groups in Austria to evaluate potential differences in perception of IAS and management methods. In total, we received 239 completed responses: 20 nature users (farmers, hunters), 91 nature experts (conservationists, biologists) and 128 from the general public. Participants were more likely to accept lethal management methods when it was an IAS. Nature experts’ acceptance of IAS management methods was rather similar to those of nature users, while the general public preferred non-lethal methods. Chemical lethal methods (herbicides, poison pellets) received low rates of acceptance throughout all stakeholder groups, although nature users were more open to accept such methods for plants. Most respondents (&gt; 50%) were not aware of the role of the EU in IAS topics nor did they know of the existence of the EUIAS regulation 1143/2014. However, more than 75% of respondents agreed that IAS measures and regulations should be implemented at EU level. This study shows that knowledge about native versus invasive alien status has an influence on the acceptance of management methods. Nature users may have higher levels of acceptance of lethal methods because they are economically dependent on extracting resources from nature. Invasive alien species regulations on EU level are generally acceptable, but there is low awareness for actions already undertaken EU.

scholarly journals Developing thresholds of potential concern for invasive alien species: Hypotheses and concepts

Koedoe ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 51 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Llewellyn C. Foxcroft
Keyword(s):  
Alien Species ◽  
Adaptive Management ◽  
Conceptual Understanding ◽  
National Park ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Invasive Alien Species ◽  
Management Options ◽  
End Points ◽  
Management Interventions ◽  
Negative Impacts

The Kruger National Park (KNP) has developed and refined a system of management called ‘strategic adaptive management’ (SAM), which rests on the concept of ‘threshold of potential concern’ (TPC). TPCs represent end-points in a continuum of change. When thresholds are reached – at which point concerns of negative impacts on biodiversity are raised – management options are explicitly considered and implemented. This paper describes the TPCs developed for monitoring and managing invasive alien species (IAS). More importantly, however, it describes the conceptual understanding, principles and hypotheses adopted as the foundations for setting these TPCs. In accordance with adaptive management practices, the TPCs will be revised as the ecological and conceptual understanding of invasions grows and information is gained through research in the KNP and elsewhere.Conservation implication: In accepting that species and systems are variable, and that flux is inevitable and desirable, these TPCs developed for invasive alien species specifi cally, provide end points against which monitoring can be assessed. Once a threshold is reached, the cause of the threshold being exceeded is examined and management interventions recommended.

The Invasive Species Risk Assessment and Prediction System Based on GIS

2014 ◽  
Vol 675-677 ◽  
pp. 1052-1057 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiao Hong Wang ◽  
Ya Jing Liu ◽  
Li Na Guo
Keyword(s):  
Risk Assessment ◽  
Invasive Species ◽  
Alien Species ◽  
Biological Diversity ◽  
Invasive Alien Species ◽  
Characteristic Curve ◽  
Secondary Development ◽  
Economic Losses ◽  
Ecological Management ◽  
The Impact

With the international economic and trade exchanges, biological invasion has become an important factor in the threat of biological diversity and ecological environment. In order to prevent and control exotic species invasion, using of GIS-based geospatial technology to the potential distribution of invasive species risk assessment can provide the basis for ecological management of invasive alien species better, thus reducing the economic losses due to invasive alien species caused to our country. To this point, the study had done a secondary development based on ArcGIS Engine component. It used niche model to analysis and study potential suitable distribution of alien pests in China, conduct a risk assessment to them. The receiver operating characteristic curve was applied to access the prediction accuracy Analyzed the impact of the distribution of invasive alien species` main environmental variables. It provided a theoretical basis for ecological management of invasive alien species.

scholarly journals A nation-wide analysis of Wikipedia and Google Searches in Italy reveals a growing interest towards biological invasions

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacopo Cerri ◽  
Sandro Bertolino ◽  
Lucilla Carnevali ◽  
Alessandro Piazzi ◽  
Andrea Monaco ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Biological Invasions ◽  
Alien Species ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Invasive Alien Species ◽  
Public Awareness ◽  
Public Policies ◽  
General Interest ◽  
Eu Regulation ◽  
Line Searches ◽  
General Terms

Biological invasions are a major driver of global change and the target of many public policies. However, we still do not know whether they attract the interest of laypeople and motivate them to know more about this topic. We modeled the temporal evolution of on-line searches about general terms regarding invasive alien species in Italy, on Wikipedia and Google.Wikipedia pages about biological invasions steadily increase their number of views and the GoogleTrends index for queries about invasive species also increased or remained stable, albeit a growing number of searches, between 2010 and 2019. The number of months without searches decreased through time, for both Google and Wikipedia searches. Also, the number of Google searches increased after the first EU regulation 1143/2014 invasive alien species entered in force. All the Wikipedia pages increased their number of views, by a magnitude suggesting that also laypeople contributed to this dynamic.A portion of the Italian society seems to have become interested about biological invasions, at least since 2010, regularly documenting about them on the Internet. This paves the way for increasing public awareness about this phenomenon, as well as citizen engagement in monitoring and management initiatives. The increase in Google searches after the EU Regulation on invasive alien species could indicate that general interest towards biological invasions is influenced also by large-scale public policies.

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