Literature review worklog IX: Draft executive summary

This is how our current executive summary reads:

Invasive species can be a blessing and a curse. Human depends heavily on non-native species for food, medicine, and aesthetic enjoyment. For instance, over 70% of the world’s food comes from just nine species and each is cultivated beyond its natural range (Ewel, O'Dowd et al. 1999). On the other hand, invasive species and their associated damages impose significant financial costs to a society. A recent US study showed that invading alien species cause losses adding up to almost $120 billion per year nationwide (Pimentel, Zuniga et al. 2005). Moreover , the spread of invasive plants is now ranked second, behind species extinction, as the greatest threat to ecosystem functions worldwide (Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, MEA 2005). The rate of invasion or introduction of species into new ranges globally is already high and continues to accelerate with growing economics trade and faster commercial transportation.

The cause of this worsening problem of invasive species was said to be primarily economic therefore economic solutions are required (Perrings, Williamson et al. 2002). However, economic analyses of invasive species issues, i.e., biosecurity economics, were still said to be in it cradle stage. Three major problems were identified, i.e., past efforts focus mostly on partial estimation, on market and direct costs and on ex-post evaluation.

We then attempted to explain each of these problems with a corresponding characteristic of biosecurity economic issues. Our premise is that the inter-disciplinary, public good and uncertainty nature could partially cause the three aforementioned problems. Next we discussed three solutions tackling each of these problems after reviewing existing literature within both Cost-Benefit-Analysis (CBA)/Cost-Effective-Analysis (CEA) and Multi-criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) frameworks.

(Below are only some food for thoughts at this stage)

X conclusions were drawn from our review: 1) invasive species should be regarded as part of the human-ecosystem dynamics; 2) biosecurity business has to move towards being proactive with appreciation of uncertainty’s role ; 3) involve public when making decision on public goods. Overall, MCDA-aided adaptive management of course …

This review also identified Y information gaps for future research: 1) system models that broad enough to incorporate both ecological and economic information plus the feedbacks in between, and flexible enough to incorporate new information when uncertainty becomes less uncertain; 2) MCDA exercise that communicates the full set of values/impacts and the system dynamic to the general public…

Reference:

Ewel, J. J., D. J. O'Dowd, et al. (1999). "Deliberate introductions of species: Research needs - Benefits can be reaped, but risks are high." Bioscience 49(8): 619-630.

Perrings, C., M. Williamson, et al. (2002). "Biological invasion risks and the public good: an economic perspective." Conservation Ecology 6(1).

Pimentel, D., R. Zuniga, et al. (2005). "Update on the environmental and economic costs associated with alien-invasive species in the United States." Ecological Economics 52(3): 273-288.