Biology Reference
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growers agreed to voluntarily stop growing 45 potentially invasive NIS (Wirth et al.
2004). However, growers continue to grow and sell 14 invasive NIS, which are
considered highly ornamental, widely used in landscapes, and of significant value
to Florida growers. The economic impact of discontinuing the sale of these 14 spe-
cies was an estimated $59 million and 800 jobs (Wirth et al. 2004). However, a full
economic and public policy analysis should include a cost-benefit analysis of con-
trol costs of the 14 species in natural environments and private properties as well as
costs of implementation and enforcement of any regulatory actions (Wirth et al.
2004). The Florida situation poses a typical balance between economic benefits and
costs, as well as environmental costs, and regulatory action.
The ornamental horticultural industry can greatly enhance its image by taking
a noticeable and active role in addressing and providing solutions to the problems
posed by the invasive NIS it currently sells. Bell et al. (2003) proposed that the
nursery industry address four issues to effectively respond to the problem of inva-
sive plants. These were (1) recognize the importance of the problem to natural
landscapes, (2) recognize that ornamental plant nurseries are involved, (3) estab-
lish a dialog with public agencies and private groups concerned about invasive
plants, and (4) be willing to participate in programs to eliminate or reduce sales of
problem species. One potential complication to the wholesale adoption of the
nursery industry to stop selling NIS is that the industry is relatively fragmented, as
it comprises many small businesses. Many of these do not belong to national, state,
or regional trade associations (based on personal observations and communications
with industry personnel). The main obstacles of these businesses to participating
in preventative measures proposed by the St. Louis Voluntary Codes of Conduct
were listed as “the lack of information,” “limited personnel,” and “too time
consuming” (Burt et al. 2007). We (authors) feel that a proactive stance on the
invasive NIS topic would be an act of responsible land stewardship and will not
result in a loss of profit if alternative noninvasive taxa are properly marketed.
Clearly, there is a need for effectively communicating the fundamentals of invasive
plants to industry personnel.
9.5.2 NonvoluntaryRegulation
Australia regulates exotic species import via an Import Risk Analysis (IRA) system
( AQIS Import Risk Analysis Handbook , http://www.daff.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_
file/0011/399341/IRA_handbook_2007_WEB.pdf. Accessed 23 May 2008). The
IRA system operates on a politically independent and scientifically based process.
The Australian Weed Risk Assessment system (WRA), a portion of the IRA,
(Biosecurity Austrailia - The Weed Risk Assessment System, http://www.daff.gov.
au/ba/reviews/weeds/system. Accessed 23 May 2008) is a methodology to deter-
mine whether a NIS should be imported into Australia. Answers to questions on
various plant aspects are given numerical scores, which are used to determine an
outcome: to accept , reject , or further evaluate the species.
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