Valuing the Impact of Selected Invasive Species in the Polynesia‐Micronesia Hotspot Final Report Valuing the Impact of Selected Invasive Species in the Polynesia‐ Micronesia Hotspot Adam Daigneault, Pike Brown, Suzie Greenhalgh Landcare Research Souad Boudjelas, John Mather, William Nagle Pacific Invasives Initiative Bill Aalbersberg Institute of Applied Science, University of the South Pacific Prepared for: Critical Ecosystems Partnership Fund Conservation International 2011 Crystal Drive Suite 500 Arlington, VA 22202 United States of America February 2013 Reviewed by: Approved for release by: Kanika Jhunjhnuwala Bob Frame Junior Researcher Principal Scientist Landcare Research Landcare Research Landcare Research Contract Report: LC 1227 Disclaimer This report has been prepared by Landcare Research for Conservation International. If used by other parties, no warranty or representation is given as to its accuracy and no liability is accepted for loss or damage arising directly or indirectly from reliance on the information in it. © Landcare Research New Zealand Ltd 2013 No part of this work covered by copyright may be reproduced or copied in any form or by any means (graphic, electronic, digital or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping, information retrieval systems, or otherwise), in whole or in part, without the written permission of Landcare Research or Conservation International. Contents Executive Summary ..................................................................................................................... v 1 Introduction ....................................................................................................................... 1 2 Quantifying the Costs and Benefits of Managing Invasive Species ................................... 3 2.1 Expert Consultation in Project Design ................................................................................. 4 2.2 Survey Research .................................................................................................................. 4 2.3 Cost‐Benefit Analysis ......................................................................................................... 14 2.4 Lessons Learned ................................................................................................................ 27 3 Cost‐Benefit Analysis Training ......................................................................................... 27 3.1 Course Development ......................................................................................................... 27 3.2 Course Participantion ........................................................................................................ 28 3.3 Future Training Opportunities ........................................................................................... 28 3.4 Lessons Learned ................................................................................................................ 28 4 Cost‐Benefit Analysis Tool and Handbook ...................................................................... 29 4.1 Cost‐Benefit Anlaysis Manual ............................................................................................ 29 4.2 Invasive Species Cost‐Benefit Anlaysis Toolkit .................................................................. 31 4.3 Lessons Learned ................................................................................................................ 33 5 Outreach .......................................................................................................................... 33 6 Summary .......................................................................................................................... 34 7 Acknowledgements ......................................................................................................... 35 8 References ....................................................................................................................... 36 Appendix 1: Training Course Call for Applications .................................................................... 39 Appendix 2: Training Course Participants ................................................................................. 40 Landcare Research Page iii Valuing the Impact of Selected Invasive Species in the Polynesia‐Micronesia Hotspot Appendix 3: Classroom Training Course Agenda ...................................................................... 41 Appendix 4: Survey Form – Community ................................................................................... 42 Appendix 5: Survey Form – Household/Individual (English) .................................................... 67 Appendix 6: Survey Form – Household/Individual (Fijian) ....................................................... 88 Appendix 7: Cost‐Benefit Analysis in the Pacific Manual ....................................................... 110 APPENDIX 7.1: Examples of Recent Cost Benefit Analyses Conducted in the Pacific ............ 146 Appendix 7.2: Structure of CBA Work Plan and Report .......................................................... 148 Appendix 7.3: Methods for Valuing Costs and Benefits in Economic Analyses ..................... 149 Appendix 8: Fact Sheet – African tulip tree ............................................................................ 150 Appendix 9: Fact Sheet – small Asian mongoose ................................................................... 152 Appendix 10: Fact Sheet – taro beetle ................................................................................... 154 Appendix 11: Fact Sheet – Red‐Vented Bulbul ....................................................................... 156 Appendix 12: Fact Sheet – Merremia Vine ............................................................................. 158 Appendix 13: CBA Analysis – African tulip tree ...................................................................... 160 Appendix 13.1: Details of African Tulip Tree Integrated Management Option ..................... 173 Appendix 13.2: African Tulip Tree Management Sensitivity Analysis .................................... 174 Appendix 14: CBA Analysis – Small Asian Mongoose ............................................................. 175 Appendix 14.1 ......................................................................................................................... 189 Apendix 15: CBA Analysis – taro beetle .................................................................................. 190 Appendix 15.1 ......................................................................................................................... 204 Appendix 16: CBA Analysis – Red‐Vented Bulbul ................................................................... 205 Appendix 16.1 ......................................................................................................................... 216 Appendix 17: CBA Analysis – Merremia Vine ......................................................................... 217 Appendix 17.1 ......................................................................................................................... 231 Page iv Landcare Research Executive Summary Invasive species pose an enormous threat in the Pacific: not only do they strongly affect biodiversity, but they also potentially affect the economic, social, and cultural wellbeing of Pacific peoples. Invasive species can potentially be managed and that their impacts can potentially be avoided, eliminated, or reduced. However, neither the costs nor the numerous benefits of management are well understood in the Pacific. Thus, the goals of this project were: A) to account for both the costs and benefits of managing invasive species; B) to prepare empirically grounded advocacy materials to help increase investment in the management of invasive species; C) to help governments prioritise investment in managing these species; and D) to build capability for undertaking economic assessments in the future. To accomplish these goals, we undertook cost-benefit analyses (CBAs) of managing five species that are well established on Viti Levu, Fiji: spathodea campanulata (African tulip tree), herpestus javanicus (small Asian mongoose), papuana uninodis (taro beetle), pycnonotus cafer (red-vented bulbul), and merremia peltata (merremia vine). Next, we conducted a comprehensive training programme on the CBA for invasive species management for professionals from the Pacific. Third, we collaborated with Pacific organisations to develop a uniform guide to conducting CBAs with numerous examples from the region. We also designed a flexible Microsoft Excel-based tool for conducting CBAs, enabling professionals who did not attend the training course to nevertheless undertake rigorous CBAs on invasive spsecies management. Finally, we developed advocacy material and publicised findings from this project to promote investment in invasive species management. This report details these activities in turn. It also includes numerous appendices that include the tools, guidance documents, and advocacy materials developed under this project. Landcare Research Page v Valuing the Impact of Selected Invasive Species in the Polynesia‐Micronesia Hotspot Page vi Landcare Research 1 Introduction Natural resources are of crucial importance in the Polynesia-Micronesia Biodiversity Hotspot. At a regional level, the Pacific is among the most productive fishing grounds in the world (Seidel