New Zealand’s Assistance with Invasive Species Management in the Pacific

10.26686/wgtn.16992301 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

◽

Simon Lovatt

Keyword(s):

Invasive Species ◽

New Zealand ◽

International Development ◽

Biodiversity Loss ◽

Well Being ◽

Leadership Role ◽

Invasive Species Management ◽

The Pacific ◽

Species Management ◽

Critical Leadership

<p>Invasive species are one of the biggest threats to development and well-being in the Pacific. They have wide-ranging impacts on economies, the environment, and societies; in addition to causing USD $1.4 trillion of losses each year. Invasive species are also the primary cause of biodiversity loss on islands which could significantly affect the ecosystem services which Pacific Islanders depend on. Every year New Zealand spends NZD $500 million on biosecurity, and Australia has spent AUD $175 million on a single eradication project. In comparison, in the Pacific there are only six people working fulltime on invasive species issues at a regional level and there is limited funding available. This thesis assesses the role of four New Zealand agencies that assist with invasive species management in the Pacific: the International Development Group of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Biosecurity New Zealand division of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, the Department of Conservation, and Landcare Research. Together these agencies provide funding, build capacity, offer technical advice, and occasionally implement projects. While there are important gains to New Zealand in assisting the Pacific with invasive species management, such as a reduced biosecurity threat and learning opportunities for staff, the desire to help the region for its own sake is a major driver. Suggestions for future improvement include having more information on the economic impacts of invasive species in the Pacific, increased coordination between donors, and including invasive species measures in regional trade agreements. It is hoped that New Zealand will continue to play its critical leadership role in invasive species management in the region.</p>

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Integrating local social-ecological knowledge to prioritise invasive species management

10.7287/peerj.preprints.27113v1 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Hernán Cáceres-Escobar ◽

Katrina J Davis ◽

Scott C Atkinson ◽

Hugh P Possingham ◽

Salit Kark

Keyword(s):

Invasive Species ◽

Local Knowledge ◽

Management Strategies ◽

Well Being ◽

Local Economy ◽

Ecological Knowledge ◽

Invasive Species Management ◽

Management Scenarios ◽

Red Foxes ◽

Species Management

There is a lot of uncertainty about how we pick the best invasive species management strategies to improve the environment, local economy, and human well-being, as invasive species management involves complex and multidimensional challenges. Invasive species management on inhabited islands is especially challenging, often due to perceived socio-political risks and unexpected technical difficulties. Failing to incorporate local knowledge and local perspectives in the early stages of planning can compromise the ability of decision-makers to achieve long-lasting conservation outcomes. Hence, including local knowledge and accounting for subjective stakeholder perceptions is essential for invasive species management, yet this often remains unaddressed. To address this gap, we present an application of invasive species management based on structured decision-making, and the resource allocation tool INFFER, on Minjerribah-North Stradbroke Island (Australia). We assessed the cost-effectiveness of six management scenarios, co-developed with local land managers and community groups, aimed at preserving the environmental and cultural significance of the island by eradicating European red foxes and feral cats. We further conducted a survey eliciting local stakeholders’ perspectives regarding the significance of the Island, their perception of the benefits of the proposed management scenarios, funding requirements, technical feasibility of implementation, and socio-political risk. We found that the best decisions when the budget is low are less cost-effective than when the budget is high. The best strategy focusses on control of European red fox on Minjerribah. However, our results also highlight the need for more research on feral cat management. This work demonstrates how to use a structured decision support tool, like INFFER, to assess contesting management strategies, this is particularly important when stakeholders’ perceptions regarding management outcomes are heterogeneous and uncertain.

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Using molecular diet analysis to inform invasive species management: A case study of introduced rats consuming endemic New Zealand frogs

Ecology and Evolution ◽

10.1002/ece3.4903 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (9) ◽

pp. 5032-5048 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Bastian Egeter ◽

Cailín Roe ◽

Sara Peixoto ◽

Pamela Puppo ◽

Luke J. Easton ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Invasive Species ◽

New Zealand ◽

Diet Analysis ◽

Invasive Species Management ◽

Species Management ◽

Molecular Diet Analysis

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Controlling sympatric pest mammal populations in New Zealand with self-resetting, toxicant-free traps: a promising tool for invasive species management

Biological Invasions ◽

10.1007/s10530-016-1115-4 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 18 (6) ◽

pp. 1723-1736 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Anna Carter ◽

Stu Barr ◽

Craig Bond ◽

Grace Paske ◽

Darren Peters ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Invasive Species ◽

New Zealand ◽

Invasive Species Management ◽

Promising Tool ◽

Species Management

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Social and logistical challenges in managing invasive predators: insights from islands in Japan and New Zealand

Pacific Conservation Biology ◽

10.1071/pc19030 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 26 (4) ◽

pp. 344 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Alistair S. Glen ◽

Kazuaki Hoshino

Keyword(s):

Invasive Species ◽

New Zealand ◽

Common Ground ◽

Invasive Species Management ◽

Community Members ◽

Invasive Predators ◽

The World ◽

Species Management ◽

Island Biodiversity ◽

Made In

Managing the impacts of invasive predators on islands is a priority for conserving global biodiversity. However, large islands and islands with substantial human settlement present particular challenges that can be broadly categorised as social and logistical. Around the world, managers concerned with island biodiversity are tackling increasingly ambitious projects, and some examples from Japan and New Zealand have been at the forefront. We used dialogues with managers, researchers, and community members, as well as our respective experience as wildlife researchers in Japan and New Zealand, to compare the challenges faced by wildlife managers in each country. We note similarities and differences between the two countries, and identify lessons from each that will help advance invasive species management on islands globally. Our observations from Japan and New Zealand show that considerable progress has been made in managing invasive predators on large, inhabited islands. Further progress will require more effective engagement with island residents to promote the goals of invasive species management, to find common ground, and to ensure that management is socially and culturally acceptable.

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Integrating local social-ecological knowledge to prioritise invasive species management

10.7287/peerj.preprints.27113 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Hernán Cáceres-Escobar ◽

Katrina J Davis ◽

Scott C Atkinson ◽

Hugh P Possingham ◽

Salit Kark

Keyword(s):

Invasive Species ◽

Local Knowledge ◽

Management Strategies ◽

Well Being ◽

Local Economy ◽

Ecological Knowledge ◽

Invasive Species Management ◽

Management Scenarios ◽

Red Foxes ◽

Species Management

There is a lot of uncertainty about how we pick the best invasive species management strategies to improve the environment, local economy, and human well-being, as invasive species management involves complex and multidimensional challenges. Invasive species management on inhabited islands is especially challenging, often due to perceived socio-political risks and unexpected technical difficulties. Failing to incorporate local knowledge and local perspectives in the early stages of planning can compromise the ability of decision-makers to achieve long-lasting conservation outcomes. Hence, including local knowledge and accounting for subjective stakeholder perceptions is essential for invasive species management, yet this often remains unaddressed. To address this gap, we present an application of invasive species management based on structured decision-making, and the resource allocation tool INFFER, on Minjerribah-North Stradbroke Island (Australia). We assessed the cost-effectiveness of six management scenarios, co-developed with local land managers and community groups, aimed at preserving the environmental and cultural significance of the island by eradicating European red foxes and feral cats. We further conducted a survey eliciting local stakeholders’ perspectives regarding the significance of the Island, their perception of the benefits of the proposed management scenarios, funding requirements, technical feasibility of implementation, and socio-political risk. We found that the best decisions when the budget is low are less cost-effective than when the budget is high. The best strategy focusses on control of European red fox on Minjerribah. However, our results also highlight the need for more research on feral cat management. This work demonstrates how to use a structured decision support tool, like INFFER, to assess contesting management strategies, this is particularly important when stakeholders’ perceptions regarding management outcomes are heterogeneous and uncertain.

Download Full-text