Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
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The database of observations must remain in the public domain with free and
open access to unclassifi ed, peer-reviewed data.
Because many aspects of an EDRA programme require extensive research and
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development (e.g. integrating millions of fi eld observations with remotely
sensed information and new forecasting tools; greatly improved information
technologies; and high-performance computing), basic research and a scien-
tifi c method must underpin the design, testing, and phased implementation
of the programme and these programmes must be developed prior to new
invasions.
The long-term success of any national or international EDRA programme is
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dependent on a long-term commitment of funding, personnel, and equip-
ment of all key components in the system, plus the continued cooperation of
many government and non-government organizations, engaged volunteers,
and public acceptance.
It would be impossible to create a comprehensive EDRA programme for the
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thousands of species on Earth. For any country (or region within a country) it
might be more realistic to focus preliminary efforts on those top priority spe-
cies that are identifi ed as serious potential invaders. Once the system is more
fully tested, it could be expanded to cover more species.
Data and information management represent the single greatest challenge of an
effective EDRA programme. Information is needed on probable and current spe-
cies distribution and abundance, habitat suitability, and containment strategies
and techniques. High resolution maps and models of current and potential spread
of harmful species and their effects—which are being used in developed coun-
tries to assess and manage invasive species problems—can be used to provide
insights into invasion ecology and to develop guidelines for response options for
those facing similar problems in other parts of the world. Based on US surveys of
resource managers and the public, there is an unprecedented need for a 'compre-
hensive, integrated system' for early detection, and 'a systematic effort to scope the
severity of the issue' for rapid assessment (Stohlgren and Schnase 2006).
Biological invasion is a global problem so it is clear that global-scale clearinghouses
that share data from all over the world are a crucial component of any effect-
ive response. Existing global-scale systems include the Global Invasive Species
Database (GISD
http://www.issg.org/database),
which has comprehensive
information on more than 500 of the world's worst invasive species; the Global
Register of Invasive Species (GRIS), which provides the names and full taxonomy
of all known invasive species, along with geographic records of introduction and
invasion; and the Global Invasive Species Information System (GISIN), which
is developing a system for the exchange of invasive species data and information
between local, national, regional, and international databases over the Internet.
