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Limits and Potentialities of Eradication as a Tool for Addressing Biological Invasions 399
response to an invasion, it can be very useful to establish an advisory committee,
involving all the competent public agencies and the relevant private organizations.
22.3.5 Removal Methods
Removal methods, either single or integrated, should be selected primarily on
the basis of their efficacy but also taking into account the selectivity and risks
of causing unnecessary stress and pain to target animal species. To avoid
undesired effects of eradications, a feasibility study should assess the ecology
of the species to be removed, ecological interactions with native and any other
alien species present in the area, and the functional role of the target alien
species.
22.3.6 Eradication vs. Control
Compared with control or geographic containments, and as a general rule,
eradication should be considered a better alternative because it prevents
potential future impacts caused by the introduced species, and allows us to
avoid permanent costs and undesired effects of removal methods. However,
eradication is not always a practicable alternative and, thus, it is important to
define explicit criteria in a decision-making process aimed at selecting
between either eradication, sustained harvest, geographic containment or a
“do-nothing” alternative. Decisions should take into account the success probability
of eradication, required effort, impacts and economic costs of the invasion,
and monitoring costs.
22.3.7 Monitoring
Monitoring during and after the eradication is essential to detect undesired
effects of removal methods, assess results of eradication, detect cases of reinvasion,
and collect information useful for preventing new invasions. Adequate
funds should be secured for monitoring, which should be based on the
best available scientific and other expertise. It may be useful that completion
of eradication be verified by an independent body, not involved in the eradication.
Eradication programs should be periodically reviewed on the basis of
monitoring.