Reyns N, Casaer J, De Smet L, Devos K, Huysentruyt F, Robertson PA, Verbeke T, Adriaens T. (2018) Cost-benefit analysis for invasive species control: the case of greater Canada goose Branta canadensis in Flanders (northern Belgium) PeerJ 6:e4283 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.4283
Abstract :
Background
Sound decisions on control actions for established
invasive alien species (IAS) require information on ecological as well
as socio-economic impact of the species and of its management.
Cost-benefit analysis provides part of this information, yet has
received relatively little attention in the scientific literature on
IAS.
Methods
We apply a bio-economic model in a cost-benefit analysis framework to greater Canada goose
Branta canadensis,
an IAS with documented social, economic and ecological impacts in
Flanders (northern Belgium). We compared a business as usual (BAU)
scenario which involved non-coordinated hunting and egg destruction with
an enhanced scenario based on a continuation of these activities but
supplemented with coordinated capture of moulting birds. To assess
population growth under the BAU scenario we fitted a logistic growth
model to the observed pre-moult capture population. Projected damage
costs included water eutrophication and damage to cultivated grasslands
and were calculated for all scenarios. Management costs of the moult
captures were based on a representative average of the actual cost of
planning and executing moult captures.
Results
Comparing the scenarios with different capture rates,
different costs for eutrophication and various discount rates, showed
avoided damage costs were in the range of 21.15 M€ to 45.82 M€ under the
moult capture scenario. The lowest value for the avoided costs applied
to the scenario where we lowered the capture rate by 10%. The highest
value occurred in the scenario where we lowered the real discount rate
from 4% to 2.5%.
Discussion
The reduction in damage costs always outweighed the
additional management costs of moult captures. Therefore, additional
coordinated moult captures could be applied to limit the negative
economic impact of greater Canada goose at a regional scale. We further
discuss the strengths and weaknesses of our approach and its potential
application to other IAS.
https://peerj.com/articles/4283