Pathway Risk Assessment: Stopping Invasions Before They Start

When
January 27, 2015 1:00 pm — 3:00 pm

Humans move invasive species intentionally and unintentionally via a wide range of pathways. Identifying and intervening in these pathways to prevent new introductions is critical to safeguard the environment, economy, and public health. Once we identify an invasion pathway, we must address major questions to determine whether and how to address the associated invasion risks through regulation or other means, including:

  • How do we assess the risks of a pathway or suite of pathways?
  • How do we link pathway risks to the risk associated with the specific species moving through that pathway?
  • How do we identify and develop effective policy and management measures to reduce those risks with the least amount of additional impact on the communities involved?

This webinar addressed new and innovative approaches to these questions across a range of taxonomies, and geographies, and scales (state, regional and national). Presentations included an overview of a predictive mapping tool employed by USDA to assess risks related to plant pest pathways, a “strength of evidence” approach to assessing the organisms in trade pathway in the Great Lakes, and an overview of six marine pathways for introduction in California.

 

Panelists:

Glenn Fowler, Risk Analyst, Plant Epidemiology and Risk Analysis Laboratory, Center for Plant Health Science and Technology, USDA – APHIS – PPQ
Andrew Tucker, Aquatic Invasive Species Applied Ecologist, The Nature Conservancy – Great Lakes Project
Ryan Meyer
, Senior Scientist, California Ocean Science Trust

Moderator:

Stas Burgiel, Assistant Director for Prevention and Budgetary Coordination, National Invasive Species Council 

 

Background Materials:

Webinar Slides
Ryan Meyer Slides

Papers