Beyond protocols: improving the reliability of expert-based risk analysis underpinning invasive species policies

Sonia Vanderhoeven; Etienne Branquart; Jim Casaer; Bram D'hondt; Philip E Hulme; Hugo Verreycken; Assaf Shwartz; Diederik  Strubbe; Anne Turbé; Tim Adriaens

doi:10.1007/s10530-017-1434-0

Beyond protocols: improving the reliability of expert-based risk analysis underpinning invasive species policies

Sonia Vanderhoeven, Etienne Branquart, Jim Casaer, Bram D'hondt, Philip E Hulme, Hugo Verreycken, Assaf Shwartz, Diederik Strubbe, Anne Turbé, Tim Adriaens

Research output: Contribution to journal › A1: Web of Science-article › peer-review

1905 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Risk assessment tools for listing invasive alien species need to incorporate all available evidence
and expertise. Beyond the wealth of protocols developed to date, we argue that the current way of
performing risk analysis has several shortcomings. In particular, lack of data on ecological impacts, transparency and repeatability of assessments as well as the incorporation of uncertainty should all be explicitly considered. We recommend improved quality control of risk assessments through formalized peer review with clear feedback between assessors and reviewers.
Alternatively, a consensus building process can be applied to better capture opinions of different experts, thereby maximizing the evidential basis. Elaborating on manageability of invasive species is further needed to fully answer all risk analysis requirements. Tackling the issue of invasive species urges better handling of the acquired information on risk and the exploration of
improved methods for decision making on biodiversity management. This is crucial for efficient conservation resource allocation and uptake by stakeholders and the public.

Original language	English
Journal	Biological Invasions
Number of pages	11
ISSN	1387-3547
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-017-1434-0
Publication status	Published - 26-Apr-2017

Thematic list

Invasive species (nature management)
Invasive species (fauna management)
Invasive species (management)
Invasive species (species diversity)

EWI Biomedical sciences

B003-ecology

Policy

species directed nature management
nature policy

Access to Document

10.1007/s10530-017-1434-0

Vanderhoeven_etal_2017_BiolInvasFinal published version, 525 KB

1 Active

Monitoring invasive species in connection with the EU IAS Regulation: Coordination, preparation, implementation and follow-up
Adriaens, T. (Project leader), Belpaire, C. (Cooperator), Bezdenjesnji, O. (Cooperator), Bombaerts, D. (Cooperator), Breine, J. (Cooperator), Casaer, J. (Cooperator), Croonen, J.-P. (Cooperator), D'hondt, B. (Cooperator), De Beukelaer, J. (Cooperator), De Boeck, T. (Cooperator), De Bruyn, A. (Cooperator), De Bruyn, L. (Cooperator), De Groof, N. (Cooperator), De Regge, N. (Cooperator), Delva, S. (Cooperator), Dens, F. (Cooperator), Devisscher, S. (Cooperator), Dewit, M. (Cooperator), Froidmont, M. (Cooperator), Galle, L. (Cooperator), Hennebel, D. (Cooperator), Hessel, K. (Cooperator), Hillaert, J. (Cooperator), Huysentruyt, F. (Cooperator), Lambeens, I. (Cooperator), Lommelen, E. (Cooperator), Maes, Y. (Cooperator), Mergeay, J. (Cooperator), Neukermans, A. (Cooperator), Pauwels, I. (Cooperator), Soors, J. (Cooperator), Speybroeck, J. (Cooperator), Strubbe, D. (Cooperator), Stuyck, J. (Cooperator), T'Jollyn, F. (Cooperator), Terrie, T. (Cooperator), Van Ballaert, S. (Cooperator), Van Calster, H. (Cooperator), Van Daele, T. (Cooperator), Van Den Berge, K. (Cooperator), Van Lierop, F. (Cooperator), Van Thuyne, G. (Cooperator), Vanden Houten, J. (Cooperator), Vercammen, J. (Cooperator), Verhaegen, Y. (Cooperator), Vernaillen, J. (Cooperator), Verreycken, H. (Cooperator), Verzelen, Y. (Cooperator), Westra, T. (Cooperator) & van Doorn, L. (Cooperator)
1/01/15 → 31/12/24
Project: Legally bound

1 Poster
1 A1: Web of Science-article

Using structured eradication feasibility assessment to prioritise the management of new and emerging invasive alien species in Europe
Booy, O., Robertson, P., Moore, N., Ward, J., Roy, H., Adriaens, T., Shaw, R., Van Valkenburg, J., Wyn, G., Bertolino, S., Blight, O., Branquart, E., Brundu, G., Caffrey, J., Capizzi, D., Casaer, J., De Clerck, O., Coughlan, N. E., Davis, E. & Dick, J. T. A. & 20 others, Essl, F., Fried, G., Genovesi, P., González-Moreno, P., Huysentruyt, F., Jenkins, S. R., Kerckhof, F., Lucy, F. E., Nentwig, W., Newman, J., Rabitsch, W., Roy, S., Starfinger, U., Stebbing, P. D., Stuyck, J., Sutton-Croft, M., Tricarico, E., Vanderhoeven, S., Verreycken, H. & Mill, A. C., Nov-2020, In: Global Change Biology. p. 1-16 16 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal › A1: Web of Science-article › peer-review

Open Access
File

1782 Downloads (Pure)
Risk assessment for terrestrial alien vertebrates provides an evidence base for EU invasive species policy
Verzelen, Y., Adriaens, T., Scalera, R., Robertson, P. A., Chapman, D., Rabitsch, W., Bacher, S., Bertolino, S., Booy, O., Genovesi, P., Kettunen, M., Moore, N. & Roy, H., Sept-2019. 1 p.
Research output: Contribution to conference › Poster

Open Access
File

Cite this

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title = "Beyond protocols: improving the reliability of expert-based risk analysis underpinning invasive species policies",

abstract = "Risk assessment tools for listing invasive alien species need to incorporate all available evidenceand expertise. Beyond the wealth of protocols developed to date, we argue that the current way ofperforming risk analysis has several shortcomings. In particular, lack of data on ecological impacts, transparency and repeatability of assessments as well as the incorporation of uncertainty should all be explicitly considered. We recommend improved quality control of risk assessments through formalized peer review with clear feedback between assessors and reviewers.Alternatively, a consensus building process can be applied to better capture opinions of different experts, thereby maximizing the evidential basis. Elaborating on manageability of invasive species is further needed to fully answer all risk analysis requirements. Tackling the issue of invasive species urges better handling of the acquired information on risk and the exploration ofimproved methods for decision making on biodiversity management. This is crucial for efficient conservation resource allocation and uptake by stakeholders and the public.",

author = "Sonia Vanderhoeven and Etienne Branquart and Jim Casaer and Bram D'hondt and Hulme, {Philip E} and Hugo Verreycken and Assaf Shwartz and Diederik Strubbe and Anne Turb{\'e} and Tim Adriaens",

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doi = "10.1007/s10530-017-1434-0",

language = "English",

journal = "Biological Invasions",

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T1 - Beyond protocols: improving the reliability of expert-based risk analysis underpinning invasive species policies

AU - Vanderhoeven, Sonia

AU - Branquart, Etienne

AU - Casaer, Jim

AU - D'hondt, Bram

AU - Hulme, Philip E

AU - Verreycken, Hugo

AU - Shwartz, Assaf

AU - Strubbe, Diederik

AU - Turbé, Anne

AU - Adriaens, Tim

PY - 2017/4/26

Y1 - 2017/4/26

N2 - Risk assessment tools for listing invasive alien species need to incorporate all available evidenceand expertise. Beyond the wealth of protocols developed to date, we argue that the current way ofperforming risk analysis has several shortcomings. In particular, lack of data on ecological impacts, transparency and repeatability of assessments as well as the incorporation of uncertainty should all be explicitly considered. We recommend improved quality control of risk assessments through formalized peer review with clear feedback between assessors and reviewers.Alternatively, a consensus building process can be applied to better capture opinions of different experts, thereby maximizing the evidential basis. Elaborating on manageability of invasive species is further needed to fully answer all risk analysis requirements. Tackling the issue of invasive species urges better handling of the acquired information on risk and the exploration ofimproved methods for decision making on biodiversity management. This is crucial for efficient conservation resource allocation and uptake by stakeholders and the public.

AB - Risk assessment tools for listing invasive alien species need to incorporate all available evidenceand expertise. Beyond the wealth of protocols developed to date, we argue that the current way ofperforming risk analysis has several shortcomings. In particular, lack of data on ecological impacts, transparency and repeatability of assessments as well as the incorporation of uncertainty should all be explicitly considered. We recommend improved quality control of risk assessments through formalized peer review with clear feedback between assessors and reviewers.Alternatively, a consensus building process can be applied to better capture opinions of different experts, thereby maximizing the evidential basis. Elaborating on manageability of invasive species is further needed to fully answer all risk analysis requirements. Tackling the issue of invasive species urges better handling of the acquired information on risk and the exploration ofimproved methods for decision making on biodiversity management. This is crucial for efficient conservation resource allocation and uptake by stakeholders and the public.

U2 - 10.1007/s10530-017-1434-0

DO - 10.1007/s10530-017-1434-0

M3 - A1: Web of Science-article

SN - 1387-3547

JO - Biological Invasions

JF - Biological Invasions

ER -

Beyond protocols: improving the reliability of expert-based risk analysis underpinning invasive species policies

Abstract

Thematic list

EWI Biomedical sciences

Policy

Access to Document

Projects

Monitoring invasive species in connection with the EU IAS Regulation: Coordination, preparation, implementation and follow-up

Research output

Using structured eradication feasibility assessment to prioritise the management of new and emerging invasive alien species in Europe

Risk assessment for terrestrial alien vertebrates provides an evidence base for EU invasive species policy

Cite this