Prevention of invasive animal problems is the
most cost-effective course of action. In the failure of prevention,
early detection is vitally important in controlling new incursions.
The role of the Detection and Prevention Program is to improve our
capacity to prevent or detect invasive animal incursions and their
impacts. The program also aims to help prevent damage from
newly established or emerging pest vertebrates. With this in
mind, we are focusing on building up an information base on the
whereabouts, impacts and risks of invasive animals
in Australia.
We are currently working on a national information system to
describe the distribution and densities of key invasive animals in
a standardised way. We are also conducting research to get an
accurate picture of the economic, social and environmental impacts
of vertebrate pests and their costs. Current risk assessment
models for invasive species are being refined and tested to ensure
they are robust. We are also developing cutting-edge genetic
techniques for identifying invasive species from trace samples. The
program also recently reviewed the current status of preparedness
for a wildlife exotic disease outbreak in Australia.
This research will provide important information to the CRC and
other pest management agencies, at a national and regional
level. The information will build the capacity of these
agencies to prioritise resource allocation and to measure the
success of pest control measures.
Projects of the Detection and Prevention Program include:
12.D.1 Mapping Invasive
Animals of Australia — establishing a nationwide mapping
system for vertebrate pests, working closely with the National Land
and Water Resources Audit.
12.D.2 Costing the Impacts
of Invasive Animals — proceedings of a workshop on the
socio-economic costs of invasive animals, held in November
2005.
12.D.3 Measuring Threats
of Invasive Animals to Biodiversity in New South Wales —
reporting on impacts to threatened species in New South Wales.
12.D.4 International
Issues and Implications of Using GMOs for Biocontrol for Vertebrate
Pests — reporting on current research, legislation
and international concerns related to GM biocontrol agents.
12.D.5 Public Attitudes
Towards Invasive Animals and Their Impacts — a summary
and review of Australasian and selected international research from
a social science perspective.
12.D.6 Measuring the
Social, Environmental and Economic Impacts of Vertebrate Pests
— assessing the economic, social and environmental costs of
invasive animals.
12.D.7 Predicting pest
impacts due to climate change
12.D.8 Review on Public Attitudes to Vertebrate Pest Control
12.D.9 Economics Impacts Assessment of the IA CRC
9.D.1 Validating and
Refining Risk Assessment Models — analysing risk
assessment models for the import and keeping of exotic vertebrates,
to determine whether these models are rigorous enough to protect
Australia from invasive animal incursions.
9.D.2 National Genotyping
Facility — developing a national facility for genotyping
pest animals, to enable small and large-scale population genetic
analyses.
9.D.3 Demonstrating the
Potential of Avicide for Starling Control in Australia —
determining whether 'Starlicide' toxin can be used effectively
to control starlings in Australian conditions, particularly around
piggeries.
9.D.5 Invasive Fish
Scoping Study — scoping current measuring and reporting
methods for the distribution, abundance and impacts of invasive
fish species in Australia.
9.D.6 and 9.D.7 Animal Welfare COPS and SOPs
9.D.8 Barrow Island Quarantine Strategy
8.D.1 Development of a cyanide pig bait for disease
monitoring
8.D.2 Review
of Wildlife Exotic Disease Preparedness — reviewing
recent research, training and infrastructure for wildlife disease
preparedness in Australia, particularly with respect to diseases
that involve invasive animals.
