Klapwijk, Maartje
- Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
Research article2016Peer reviewedOpen access
Reducing the risk of invasive forest pests and pathogens: Combining legislation, targeted management and public awareness
Klapwijk, MJ; Hopkins, AJM; Eriksson, L; Pettersson, M; Schroeder, M; Lindelow, A; Ronnberg, J; Keskitalo, ECH; Kenis, M
Abstract
Intensifying global trade will result in increased numbers of plant pest and pathogen species inadvertently being transported along with cargo. This paper examines current mechanisms for prevention and management of potential introductions of forest insect pests and pathogens in the European Union (EU). Current European legislation has not been found sufficient in preventing invasion, establishment and spread of pest and pathogen species within the EU. Costs associated with future invasions are difficult to estimate but past invasions have led to negative economic impacts in the invaded country. The challenge is combining free trade and free movement of products (within the EU) with protection against invasive pests and pathogens. Public awareness may mobilise the public for prevention and detection of potential invasions and, simultaneously, increase support for eradication and control measures. We recommend focus on commodities in addition to pathways, an approach within the EU using a centralised response unit and, critically, to engage the general public in the battle against establishment and spread of these harmful pests and pathogens.
Keywords
Biosecurity; European Union; Pathways; Plant health; Plants for planting; World trade organisation
Published in
AMBIO: A Journal of the Human Environment
2016, volume: 45, number: Supplement 2, pages: S223-S234
SLU Authors
Hopkins, Anna
- Murdoch University
Schroeder, Martin
- Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
- Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
Lindelöw, Åke
- Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
- Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
Rönnberg, Jonas
- Southern Swedish Forest Research Centre, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
- Southern Swedish Forest Research Centre, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
Keskitalo, Carina
- Umeå University
Associated SLU-program
Future Forests (until Jan 2017)
SLU Future Forests
SLU Plant Protection Network
UKÄ Subject classification
Law and Society
Ecology
Applied Psychology
Publication identifier
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13280-015-0748-3
Permanent link to this page (URI)
https://res.slu.se/id/publ/79244