Systems thinking for general surveillance programs – practical insights and limiting factors to guide resourcing decisions

Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution

Ecology and Evolution

Jenifer L. Ticehurst¹  Heleen Kruger¹  Susan M. Hester² 

[1]Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES), Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Canberra, ACT, Australia

[2]Centre of Excellence for Biosecurity Risk Analysis, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia

[3]University of New England Business School, University of New England, Armidale, NSW, Australia

关键词: citizen science;    biosecurity;    community engagement;    transaction cost;    resource allocation;    limiting factors;    systems thinking;    general surveillance;   

DOI  :  10.3389/fevo.2023.1106751

 received in 2022-11-24, accepted in 2023-07-13,  发布年份 2023

来源: Frontiers

【 摘 要 】

General surveillance programs promise cost-effective ways to contribute to various biosecurity outcomes, including early detection, understanding the spread of invasive species, and evidence of pest and disease freedom to support trade. These programs encourage people from all walks of life to monitor, detect, and report biosecurity threats. Because general surveillance programs make use of the general public and other people already operating in environments where pests may be present, it is often assumed that programs can occur at very low or even no cost. This article discusses lessons learnt about resourcing general surveillance programs from nine in-depth case studies in Australia and New Zealand across a range of biosecurity sectors. Lessons learnt are derived from qualitative analysis using systems thinking, in particular via the concept of limiting factors. It shows that funding is required for program establishment and coordination, adaptive management, and a range of other activities, and there are various sources of transaction cost. It outlines the strategies used to attract and maintain funding and in-kind contributions over time, including how programs navigated various funding challenges. It highlights the importance of using efficient tools and processes for reporting, species identification/disease diagnosis, and data management. The article provides insights that should prove useful for improving return on investment for general surveillance programs.

【 授权许可】

Unknown   
Copyright © 2023 Kruger, Ticehurst and Hester