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

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

2. 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

3. Pest control is a complex sector

4. 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??

5. Biodiversity Management System Goals or national outcomes from: - Biodiversity Strategy - RMA - RPS - Community plan Biodiversity inventory sources - databases (e.g NHMS, PAN-NZ) - ongoing monitoring of biodiversity and threats (monitoring plan) Evaluate outcomes against indicators Identify management outcomes and indicators required to achieve goals Identify threats and list all management activities (projects) required to deliver each outcome • 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 Evaluate outputs for cost-effectiveness Calculate project efficiency (E) = W x B x S Cost Rank projects and select within budget Performance monitoring of outputs and outcomes Resources Funds, staff, collaborations, contractors. Projects • 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

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

7. Link to DSS

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

9. Conclusion – the DSS provides: • An expert, objective system • Transparency/accountability • Best current practice • Costing tools • Prioritisation

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

22. 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)

23. Biodiversity Management System Goals or national outcomes from: - Biodiversity Strategy - RMA - RPS - Community plan Biodiversity inventory sources - databases (e.g NHMS, PAN-NZ) - ongoing monitoring of biodiversity and threats (monitoring plan) Evaluate outcomes against indicators Identify management outcomes and indicators required to achieve goals Identify threats and list all management activities (projects) required to deliver each outcome • 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 Evaluate outputs for cost-effectiveness Calculate project efficiency (E) = W x B x S Cost Rank projects and select within budget Performance monitoring of outputs and outcomes Resources Funds, staff, collaborations, contractors. Projects