A Decision Support System for pest control Dave Morgan, Margaret Anderson, and Bruce Warburton Landcare Research, Lincoln

What is it?  An internet-based system to assist in choosing the most appropriate pest control methods  Presently – possums, rats, ferrets, stoats, cats  Primarily for RC staff and community groups  Funded as an Envirolink Tools project  Many other potential users

Pest control is a complex sector

Why? 1. Good decision making - help decision-making in a complex sector, based on science or expert advice 2. Prioritising expenditure - funds are limited – can’t do everything - so, want best ‘bangs for bucks’ based on a reliable, transparent process 3. Consistent approach nationally -part of the MAFBNZ toolbox??

Examples of DoC Goals  Secure from extinction  Long-term recovery  Best minimum set of ecosystems (‘zoos’)  Maximise ecological integrity (‘restoration’)  Ecosystem services Examples of RC Goals  Retain current levels of biodiversity adjacent to human settlement  Habitat protection  Community participation  Halting decline  Protect and restore Biodiversity inventory sources - databases (e.g NHMS, PAN-NZ) - ongoing monitoring of biodiversity and threats (monitoring plan) Goals or national outcomes from: - Biodiversity Strategy - RMA - RPS - Community plan Biodiversity Management System Projects Vertebrate Pest Decision Support System user inputs: (i) job criteria and (ii) constraints system applies rules and recommends best options pest managers consider recommended options in making decision Other biodiversity management activities e.g. land acquisition, fencing, revegetation, translocations, supplementary feeding Identify management outcomes and indicators required to achieve goals Calculate project efficiency (E) = W x B x S Cost Identify threats and list all management activities (projects) required to deliver each outcome Rank projects and select within budget Resources Funds, staff, collaborations, contractors. Performance monitoring of outputs and outcomes Evaluate outputs for cost- effectiveness Evaluate outcomes against indicators

Principle: considers all constraints and recommends cheapest available option Process: 1.Consider all constraints (environmental, social, legal) 2.Rule out inappropriate options 3.Short-list appropriate options 4.Narrow down further based on: i.methods used in last 3 years ii. cost 5.Link to current best practice advice 6.Calculate ‘efficiency’ of job (i.e. bangs for bucks) 7.Prioritise jobs How does the DSS work?

Link to DSS

Availability Test version on internet in 2-3 weeks Publically available by end-July Publicity

Conclusion – the DSS provides: An expert, objective system Transparency/accountabili ty Best current practice Costing tools Prioritisation

Conclusion – the DSS provides: Expert, objective system Transparency Best current practice Costing Prioritisation

Other potential users Governance Biosecurity NZ staff DoC community relations managers DoC biodiversity fund managers Regional council Funding approvers Corporate sponsors Portfolio managers Biosecurity managers (BNZ, AHB, RCs) Biodiversity managers (MoE, DoC, RCs) Operational planners RC, DoC, AHB, contractors, private landowners, researchers Ecologists Ecologists (DoC and RCs) Private ecological consultants Operational staff RC parks and reserves staff DoC field staff Pest control contracting companies Private landowners Forestry Farmers Conservation reserves Lifestyle blocks Funding applicants (QEII, Sustainability Grants) Iwi/hapu planners (e.g. Nga Whenua Rahui) Community groups Environmental NGOs and Trusts (e.g. Forest and Bird, Project Crimson, QEII Trust) Volunteer community groups (e.g. Landcare groups, NZ Trust for Conservation Volunteers) Business groups Pest product manufacturers Pest product importers/suppliers Pest product retailers Education Students ( secondary and tertiary level) Tech. training organizations (e.g. AITO, polytechs) Researchers Pest research scientists (e.g. ecology, toxicology, biometrics, food technology)

Biodiversity inventory sources - databases (e.g NHMS, PAN-NZ) - ongoing monitoring of biodiversity and threats (monitoring plan) Goals or national outcomes from: - Biodiversity Strategy - RMA - RPS - Community plan Biodiversity Management System Projects Vertebrate Pest Decision Support System user inputs: (i) job criteria and (ii) constraints system applies rules and recommends best options pest managers consider recommended options in making decision Other biodiversity management activities e.g. land acquisition, fencing, revegetation, translocations, supplementary feeding Identify management outcomes and indicators required to achieve goals Calculate project efficiency (E) = W x B x S Cost Identify threats and list all management activities (projects) required to deliver each outcome Rank projects and select within budget Resources Funds, staff, collaborations, contractors. Performance monitoring of outputs and outcomes Evaluate outputs for cost- effectiveness Evaluate outcomes against indicators