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An Economic Evaluation of a Pest Management Control Program: "Outfox the Fox"

Author

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  • Jones, Randall E.
  • Saunders, Glen
  • Balogh, Suzy

Abstract

Foxes are regarded as a serious pest of environmental and grazing systems in Australia. The fox is a recognised predator of native wildlife and has been a significant contributor to the population decline of many native mammal, bird and reptile species. There are also claims that foxes may account for up to 30% of lamb mortalities in some areas, while mortality due to predation of 2 to 5% is more likely in most regions. The ‘Outfox the Fox’ program was established by NSW Agriculture in conjunction with a number of Rural Land Protection Boards to achieve a more strategic and coordinated fox baiting program. This program relies on a community driven and integrated management approach to the problem. The main features are to synchronise baiting across landholders at least twice a year, undertake baiting during periods when the fox is most susceptible, regularly check and replace baits, and continue until the bait take declines. A stochastic economic surplus and benefit-cost analysis model was developed to evaluate this program. The change in annual economic surplus due to the ‘Outfox the Fox’ program was $3.4m. The benefit-cost analysis showed that the project provided a significant return on public investment with a mean net present value of $9.8m and a mean benefit-cost ratio of 13.0:1. The stochastic analysis indicated that there was a very low probability of this program providing a negative economic return.

Suggested Citation

  • Jones, Randall E. & Saunders, Glen & Balogh, Suzy, 2005. "An Economic Evaluation of a Pest Management Control Program: "Outfox the Fox"," Research Reports 42653, New South Wales Department of Primary Industries Research Economists.
  • Handle: RePEc:ags:nswprr:42653
    DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.42653
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Marshall, Graham R. & Brennan, John P., 2001. "Issues in benefit-cost analysis of agricultural research projects," Australian Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Australian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society, vol. 45(2), pages 1-19.
    2. R. Quentin Grafton & Stephen Knowles, 2002. "Social Capital and National Environmental Performance: A Cross-sectional Analysis," Economics and Environment Network Working Papers 0206, Australian National University, Economics and Environment Network.
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    Cited by:

    1. Mounter, Stuart W. & Griffith, Garry R. & Piggott, Roley R. & Fleming, Euan M. & Zhao, Xueyan, 2007. "Composition of the National Sheep Flock and Specification of Equilibrium Prices and Quantities for the Australian Sheep and Wool Industries, 2002-03 to 2004-05," Research Reports 37664, New South Wales Department of Primary Industries Research Economists.

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