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Bioeconomic modeling for control of weeds in natural environments

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  • Cacho, Oscar J.
  • Wise, Russell M.
  • Hester, Susan M.
  • Sinden, J.A.

Abstract

When a weed invasion is first discovered a decision has to be made on whether to attempt to eradicate it, contain it or do nothing. Ideally, these decisions should be based on a complete benefit-cost analysis, but this is often not possible. A partial analysis, combining knowledge of the rate of spread, seedbank longevity, costs of control and techniques of economic analysis, can assist in making a good decision. This paper presents a decision model to determine when immediate eradication of a weed should be attempted, or more generally whether weed control should be attempted at all. The technique is based on identifying two 'switching points': the invasion size at which it is no longer optimal to attempt eradication but where containment may be an option; and the invasion size at which it becomes optimal to apply no form of control at all. The model is applied to a woody perennial weed in a natural environment. The results show that seedbank longevity is the main constraint on the maximum eradicable area and spread rate is the main constraint on the maximum containment area. Stochastic simulations are undertaken to derive probability distributions of costs which are than used to evaluate the effect of budget constraints on areas that can be eradicated. We find that, in the absence of a budget constraint, it may be desirable to eradicate invasions from areas as large as 8000Â ha, but when budget constraints typical of those faced by agencies in Australia are introduced, feasible eradicable areas are less than 1000Â ha.

Suggested Citation

  • Cacho, Oscar J. & Wise, Russell M. & Hester, Susan M. & Sinden, J.A., 2008. "Bioeconomic modeling for control of weeds in natural environments," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 65(3), pages 559-568, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecolec:v:65:y:2008:i:3:p:559-568
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Odom, Doreen I. S. & Cacho, Oscar J. & Sinden, J. A. & Griffith, Garry R., 2003. "Policies for the management of weeds in natural ecosystems: the case of scotch broom (Cytisus scoparius, L.) in an Australian national park," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 44(1), pages 119-135, February.
    2. Sinden, John Alfred & Griffith, Garry, 2007. "Combining economic and ecological arguments to value the environmental gains from control of 35 weeds in Australia," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 61(2-3), pages 396-408, March.
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    Cited by:

    1. Rout, Tracy M. & Moore, Joslin L. & Possingham, Hugh P. & McCarthy, Michael A., 2011. "Allocating biosecurity resources between preventing, detecting, and eradicating island invasions," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 71(C), pages 54-62.
    2. Martínez, Yolanda & Cirujeda, Alicia & Gómez, Miguel I. & Marí, Ana I. & Pardo, Gabriel, 2018. "Bioeconomic model for optimal control of the invasive weed Zea mays subspp. (teosinte) in Spain," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 165(C), pages 116-127.
    3. Liu, Shuang & Aurambout, Jean-Philippe & Villalta, Oscar & Edwards, Jacqueline & De Barro, Paul & Kriticos, Darren J. & Cook, David C., 2015. "A structured war-gaming framework for managing extreme risks," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 116(C), pages 369-377.
    4. Carrasco, Luis Roman & Baker, R & MacLeod, A & Knight, J. D. & Mumford, J. D., 2009. "Optimal and robust control of invasive alien species spreading in homogeneous landscapes," MPRA Paper 57757, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    5. Carrasco, L. Roman & Cook, David & Baker, Richard & MacLeod, Alan & Knight, Jon D. & Mumford, John D., 2012. "Towards the integration of spread and economic impacts of biological invasions in a landscape of learning and imitating agents," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 76(C), pages 95-103.
    6. Cacho, Oscar J. & Hester, Susan M., 2011. "Deriving efficient frontiers for effort allocation in the management of invasive species," Australian Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Australian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society, vol. 55(1), pages 1-18.
    7. Grechi, Isabelle & Chadès, Iadine & Buckley, Yvonne M. & Friedel, Margaret H. & Grice, Anthony C. & Possingham, Hugh P. & van Klinken, Rieks D. & Martin, Tara G., 2014. "A decision framework for management of conflicting production and biodiversity goals for a commercially valuable invasive species," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 125(C), pages 1-11.
    8. Morteza Chalak & David J. Pannell, 2015. "Optimal Integrated Strategies to Control an Invasive Weed," Canadian Journal of Agricultural Economics/Revue canadienne d'agroeconomie, Canadian Agricultural Economics Society/Societe canadienne d'agroeconomie, vol. 63(3), pages 381-407, September.
    9. Carrasco, Luis Roman & MacLeod, Alan & Knight, John D. & Baker, Richard & Mumford, John D., 2009. "Optimal Control of Spreading Biological Invasions: For How Long Should We Apply the Brake?," 83rd Annual Conference, March 30 - April 1, 2009, Dublin, Ireland 50940, Agricultural Economics Society.
    10. Ferreira, João Miguel, 2023. "Optimal control policies for a non-eruptive population of rodents—The relevance of migration," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 484(C).
    11. Cacho, Oscar J. & Hester, Susan M., 2022. "Modelling biocontrol of invasive insects: An application to European Wasp (Vespula germanica) in Australia," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 467(C).

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