Invasion of the aliens 

Last weekend we headed up to the mountains for a nice long run.  We went to Craigieburn forest, which is a beautiful mountainous area in the Canterbury high country, clad in native bush.  The track wound its way through native beech forest with ferns and moss to step around and little windows  to look out at the surrounding mountains. However on this trip, unlike earlier ones, my eyes were opened to something new.  The beautiful native bush area had many exotic pests flourishing.  We spotted countless wilding pines and vast numbers of stoat traps.  How many stoats are up there!!! 

The reason why I noticed all the alien species on this occasion, is because of the research I am doing for assessment 1.  I am arguing whether current biosecurity systems are adequate or not.  Look out your window.  I would bet that 90% of what you can see is exotic to New Zealand.  Aliens have and are invading everywhere.  Our hills and mountains are alive with the creatures from afar; wilding pines, rabbits, rats, possums, broom, stoats etc etc etc, all thrilled to make New Zealand their home.  There is always a Queensland fruit fly or Varroa mite eager to infiltrate our biosecurity network and make New Zealand their new home.   Many of these introduced or invading pests and diseases have a significant effect on our native or farmed species and our economic primary industries which we as a country, rely on as well as our individual health. 

I have been though airport border control (and watched it on TV) many times and think they do an amazing job.  My first task is to gain a better understanding of the whole subject of biosecurity and what it is made up of.  This will help me understand the topic and where research could lead.  The MPI (Ministry for Primary Industry) oversees biosecurity.  Once I managed to finish procrastinating, I browsed their website, which is brilliant and gave me an excellent overview of what and who biosecurity was made up of.  They have many reports going back to the Biosecurity Act 1993.  Obviously MPI is a very positive organisation, and no debate was found.  Strange that! 

This led me to a Massey Library search of articles and journals on policy and risk, to understand the why of policy and management.  What would happen if our current policy was different?  The other research I wanted to obtain was budgetary information.  How much is spent, on who, for what and is it effective?  This has proved to be difficult as the money spent on the science and control seems to come from many different organisations and given to many organisations.  I have not found any clear research or information on this topic and the effectiveness of the spending.  Whilst the budget for this seems to be very high (based on the portions of information I have found), the government seems to be moving towards a 'user pays system', which clearly makes more sense than a central taxpayer funded scheme.  if you purchase the apples from Queensland, you will pay for the biosecurity measures they have been through to get to you safely. 

I have also investigated global biosecurity issues.  What is likely to happen in the long term?  Are we doomed?  After reading up on this subject through books such as "A plague of rats and rubbervines: The growing threat of species invasions" by Yvonne Baskin and "Biosecurity: The socio-politics of invasive species and infectious diseases" compiled by A Dobson et al, I believe that the world will eventually become one general balance of biology based on geographic conditions and survival of the fittest. 

It is obvious when out for a run in the countryside how many uncontrolled exotic species there are and just how futile the control efforts seem to be.  Should we just give up now? 

Baskin, Y. (2002). A plague of rats and rubbervines: The growing threat of species invasions.  

Washington, DC: Island Press.  

Dobson, A., Barker, K., & Taylor, S. L. (Eds.). (2013). Biosecurity: The socio-politics of invasive  

species and infectious diseases. Oxon, England: Routledge.