Preemptive and proactive application of biological control for weeds: An argument for swifter action to aid conservation efforts

Abstract

Invasive alien plants (IAPs) are a frequent consequence of global connectivity and present significant threats to biodiversity, amplifying impacts from global climate change and habitat loss. Integrated management efforts for landscape-level plant invasions often include some combination of mechanical, cultural, chemical, and biological control. The former three have well established protocols and development pipelines for rapid responses to new invasions. Biological control of IAPs, however, is often employed only after the invaded region has reached some arbitrary but intolerable level of negative impact that triggers efforts to develop agents to provide control. Despite mounting evidence that investments in prevention and proactive approaches to IAPs are the most cost effective, most expenditures, including those for biological control development, continue to be in the post-invasion reactive phase. We build a rationale for earlier investigation and implementation of biological control for IAPs. A potential framework for this approach would pair prioritization methods (e.g., risk assessments and horizon scanning) to identify targets with extensive literature searches for known herbivores or foreign range surveys and early host range tests. In addition, resource sharing among regions and nations with similar climates and risks would alleviate the onus of investment from any one party. Finally, investments into conservation and training opportunities between nations further incentivizes maintaining natural resources for potential biological control. By developing and implementing biological control earlier in or before the invasion process, countless impacts and costs are lessened.