Open AccessConservation decisions under pressure: Lessons from an exercise in rapid response to wildlife disease
Author(s) -
Canessa Stefano,
Spitzenvan der Sluijs Annemarieke,
Stark Tariq,
Allen Bryony E.,
Bishop Phillip J.,
Bletz Molly,
Briggs Cheryl J.,
Daversa David R.,
Gray Matthew J.,
Griffiths Richard A.,
Harris Reid N.,
Harrison Xavier A.,
Hoverman Jason T.,
Jervis Phillip,
Muths Erin,
Olson Deanna H.,
Price Stephen J.,
RichardsZawacki Corinne L.,
Robert Jacques,
Rosa Gonçalo M.,
Scheele Ben C.,
Schmidt Benedikt R.,
Garner Trenton W. J.
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
conservation science and practice
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2578-4854
DOI - 10.1111/csp2.141
Subject(s) - context (archaeology) , risk analysis (engineering) , scope (computer science) , process (computing) , scale (ratio) , wildlife , environmental resource management , business , computer science , process management , environmental planning , geography , ecology , economics , biology , cartography , archaeology , programming language , operating system
Novel outbreaks of emerging pathogens require rapid responses to enable successful mitigation. We simulated a 1‐day emergency meeting where experts were engaged to recommend mitigation strategies for a new outbreak of the amphibian fungal pathogen Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans . Despite the inevitable uncertainty, experts suggested and discussed several possible strategies. However, their recommendations were undermined by imperfect initial definitions of the objectives and scope of management. This problem is likely to arise in most real‐world emergency situations. The exercise thus highlighted the importance of clearly defining the context, objectives, and spatial–temporal scale of mitigation decisions. Managers are commonly under pressure to act immediately. However, an iterative process in which experts and managers cooperate to clarify objectives and uncertainties, while collecting more information and devising mitigation strategies, may be slightly more time consuming but ultimately lead to better outcomes.