The Economics of Biological Invasions

by Charles Perrings (Editor), Mark Williamson (Editor), Silvana Dalmazzone (Editor)

Overview

Biological invasions - the introduction of living organisms beyond their original range - are one of the main drivers of biodiversity loss. They are a major threat to human health and a source of pests and pathogens in the world's farms, forests and fisheries.

The growth of international trade and travel means that more species are being introduced to more places than ever before. This book represents the first concerted effort to understand the economic causes and consequences of biological invasions. The volume discusses the theoretical and methodological issues raised by invasion, including control strategies, modelling options, and a study of the economic, institutional and policy conditions that predispose countries to biological invasions. Also included are case studies of fisheries, agricultural systems, tropical forests and protected areas affected by invasive species in locations such as the Black Sea, Australia and Africa, and an evaluation of control programmes.

The Economics of Biological Invasions provides an important first step towards codification of the advice needed to develop decision rules, tools and protocols for the effective management of invasive biological species.

This volume will be a fascinating read for researchers, academics and students in ecology, economics and environmental science with an interest in the biodiversity problem. The book will also prove to be essential reading for policymakers responsible for health, agriculture, forestry, fisheries and the environment in both developed and developing countries.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781840643787
Publisher:	Edward Elgar Publishing
Publication date:	10/25/2000
Pages:	264
Product dimensions:	6.30(w) x 9.30(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

Edited by Charles Perrings, Professor of Environmental Economics, Vice-Chair, Diversitas, Global Institute of Sustainability, Arizona State University, US, Mark Williamson, Professor Emeritus of Biology, University of York, UK and Silvana Dalmazzone, Assistant Professor of Economic Policy, University of Turin, Italy

Table of Contents

Contents: Preface 1. Introduction Part I: Analysis 2. Economic Factors Affecting Vulnerability to Biological Invasions 3. Infectious Diseases as Invasives in Human Populations 4. Risk Reduction Strategies Against the ‘Explosive Invader’ 5. The Economics of an Invading Species 6. Weed Invasions of Australian Farming Systems Part II: Case Studies 7. An Introduced Disease in an Invasive Host 8. Invasive Species in Tropical Rain Forests 9. Economic Consequences of Alien Infestation of the Cape Floral Kingdom’s Fynbos Vegetation 10. The Impact of Invasive Species in African Lakes 11. Economic Evaluation in Classical Biological Control Part III: Conclusions 12. Conclusions Index

Editorial Reviews

'An interesting book catering perhaps for a more specific audience. It does however provide a somewhat new view of the problems of the field of biological invasions and is worth the effort.'

Ann Sundqvist

'. . . anyone interested in biological invasions will learn from this book, and many readers may be inspired to further consideration of economic aspects of invasions.'

Daniel Simberloff

'Once again, Charles Perrings and colleagues have broken new ground by applying economic and ecological analysis to the very real problem of biological invasions. This is path-breaking work in what promises to be a new sub-discipline within environmental economics.'

David Pearce

Invasions of alien organisms beyond their original range is a major threat to human health as well as to biodiversity. The preface, reprinted from 1:97-8, 1999, details the interdisciplinary Global Invasive Species Program built on an earlier scientific synthesis of the problem. A dozen chapters by international contributors present economic analyses of such ecological onslaughts as a step toward developing decision rules for their management; case studies in affected areas (from rabbit calicivirus disease in Australia to invasive species in African lakes), and control programs; and conclusions as to their causes and consequences. Figures and tables summarize bioeconomic data and models. The editors are affiliated with the U. of York, UK. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Booknews