Linking climate suitability, spread rates and host impact when estimating the potential costs of invasive pests

Notes how biosecurity agencies need to be able to estimate the potential for each invasive alien species (IAS) to create negative impacts, so that relative and absolute comparisons can be made using bioeconomic tools, in order to help inform policy and allocate scarce management resources. Demonstrates a novel analytical framework, combining ecological and economic modelling, to estimate the economic impacts of an invasive organism as a basis for informing policy-level decision-making. Uses New Zealand as a case study to simulate the impact of an invasion by the pine processionary moth (Thaumetopoea pityocampa sensu lato) on volume and present value of the pine plantation (Pinus radiata) estate under current climate, assuming control or no control of T.pityocampa using insecticide. Discusses the utility of this case study as a generic approach for quantifying economic impacts of pests on important crop species. Source: National Library of New Zealand Te Puna Matauranga o Aotearoa, licensed by the Department of Internal Affairs for re-use under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 New Zealand Licence.