Plants & Pests

A globalized economy means there is a consumer demand for consistency across markets, and the commercial trade of live plants is no exception. However, this trade has historically served as a major pathway for introducing invasive pests that have caused major damage to ecosystems. Understanding the extent of environmental and economic risks has been a major focus for a team of economists, biologists, and policy experts. By working in collaboration with regulators, the team gained a fuller understanding of the policies already in place and where to focus their research efforts.
Plants and Pests is a video featuring the SESYNC Pursuit led by Resources for the Future’s Rebecca Epanchin-Niell and Andrew “Sandy” Liebhold, of the U.S. National Forest Service. They explain how this research collaboration identified cost-efficient strategies for reducing the economic and environmental risks associated with invasive pests from the movement of live plants. The team worked on many projects, but this one in particular was co-developed with regulators to help inform a shift in policy.