Addressing the Needs of Classical Biological Control Programs

Authors

Invasive Species Advisory Committee

Date of this Version

7-12-2016

Citation

Invasive Species Advisory Committee, July 12, 2016

Also available at https://www.doi.gov/sites/doi.gov/files/uploads/isac_biocontrols2016_white_paper_rev.pdf

Comments

United States government work

Abstract

Conclusions

Classical biological control has been among the most cost- effective and environmentally safe management tools for invasive species for many years, both nationally and internationally. Addressing the political, regulatory, and institutional challenges in the discovery, pre-release phase and post-release monitoring of a classical biological control program would greatly enhance the long-term potential for success. From this white paper, a number of recommendations were developed that we believe will significantly improve prioritization and effectiveness of classical biological control programs, including:

1. Develop transparent criteria to prioritize those invasive species for which classical biological control is the most cost-effective control option. For high priority invasive species provide sufficient resources to fully support the development, implementation and monitoring of classical biological control programs.

2. Identify and establish collaborations with local scientists in the country of origin to facilitate collection and shipment of new biological control agents in areas of limited accessibility (for example, due to political instability).

3. Work with the International Organization for Biological addressing the needs of classical biological controls programs to exclude biological control agents from the list of organisms regulated by access and benefit sharing procedures.

4. Encourage APHIS and DHS to continue their efforts to streamline shipping and entry requirements for the importation of biological control agents approved for testing and/or quarantine rearing.

5. Institute a holistic ecological risk/benefit analysis in the regulatory decision-making process that assesses the threat, treatment options and benefits (economic, environmental, social, and cultural) of the release of biological control agents.

6. Establish a defined process and timeline for the approval or disapproval of requests to import and release a new imported biological control agents.

7. Improve communications regarding biological control decision-making among the TAG, APHIS, and FWS, and the classical biological control petitioner.

8. Review federal permitting requirements, such as the inter- state movement of fully established classical biological control agents and associated host material and the movement of not fully established biological control agents with the aim of improving the implementation of biological control.