Using ‘WeedSearch’to assess the feasibility of eradicating 34 high-risk invasive plant species in Queensland

Abstract

The computer model ‘WeedSearch’ was used to estimate the cost of eradicating 34 high-risk plant species in Queensland. Eradication of six species is predicted to cost less than $100,000 per species. For 14 species, cost is predicted to be between $100,000 and $1M per species. For the remaining 14 species, eradication is predicted to cost more than $1M per species. The analysis allows species to be prioritized so that finite resources can be directed to species most vulnerable to eradication. Moreover, it identifies species for which eradication may no longer be a realistic management objective.