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The Biosecurity Concept

Biosecurity is about protecting natural and physical resources and human health from pests and unwanted organisms. This is done through exclusion, eradication, and pest management. All are different levels of intervention that can be used by themselves or more effectively in combination.

In a new environment any plant or animal could be a potential threat as you may not know how it will behave in a different climate with different competitors for food and light sources. It is unusual to think that in one country a plant could be under threat and in another it can be considered a pest. This is the case with the Pohutukawa tree in New Zealand where it is under threat from the possum. In South Africa however it is becoming a pest out competing native plants.

An example of how an animal can become a pest in New Zealand is the possum. They are a problem as they have no natural enemies; they attack native plant and bird species and are a vector for Bovine Tuberculosis.

Plant species known as invasive species or weeds can out compete, displace and threaten native flora and affect farm pasture. In New Zealand, Gorse is a good example of a plant that affects farm pasture and costs landowners a lot of money to control.

Excluding pests can be achieved on a national scale through legislation for screening and inspection services. This is achievable in some countries like New Zealand and Australia as there are no land borders to control and the distance from other countries reduces the natural spread of animals and plants without human intervention.

Islands, peninsulars and areas with some form of natural border or man made borders can mean that eradication programmes may be successful. A programme to prevent the reintroduction of unwanted plants or animals can be put in place. When looking at physical means of excluding pests, this can be achieved with predator fencing and chemical barriers. Once the barriers are up a programme to remove all current pests within the area can be implemented

Eradication may be the preferred option but may not always be practical to achieve, hence pest management control programmes may be the most cost effective way of reducing pest populations and the associated risks. Eradication and pest management plans can be achieved through, mechanical removal, chemical treatment, trapping or shooting depending on what needs to be eradicated or controlled.

Pest plants and animals can be difficult to control. Plant control and Animal control programmes can last over many years depending on the population density of the plant or animal pest. For some plants the continual threat can come from the potential seed bank in the soil. This means when a programme is implemented it must be continued with for the benefits to be felt.

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