Journal of Forest Economics > Vol 27 > Issue 1

The role of restoration in the prevention of a large-scale native species loss: Case study of the invasive emerald ash borer

Kevin Berry, University of Alaska Anchorage, Institute of Social and Economic Research, Department of Economics & Public Policy, United States, kberry13@alaska.edu , David C. Finnoff, University of Wyoming, College of Business, Department of Economics, United States, finnoff@uwuo.edu , Richard D. Horan, Michigan State University, Department of Agricultural, Food and Resource Economics, United States, horan@msu.edu , Shana M. McDermott, Trinity University, Department of Economics, Chapman Center, One Trinity Place, United States, smcdermo@trinity.edu
 
Suggested Citation
Kevin Berry, David C. Finnoff, Richard D. Horan and Shana M. McDermott (2017), "The role of restoration in the prevention of a large-scale native species loss: Case study of the invasive emerald ash borer", Journal of Forest Economics: Vol. 27: No. 1, pp 91-98. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jfe.2017.03.002

Publication Date: 0/4/2017
© 0 2017 Kevin Berry, David C. Finnoff, Richard D. Horan and Shana M. McDermott
 
Subjects
 
Keywords
JEL Codes:Q20Q23Q57
Invasive speciesPreventionRestorationAsh treesEmerald ash borer
 

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In this article:
Introduction 
The EAB decision model 
The optimal solution 
Numerical results 
Discussion and conclusion 
Competing interests statement 
Authors contribution statement 
Funding statement 

Abstract

Prevention and restoration are two options for minimizing environmental and economic damages caused by invasive species. Prevention lowers the probability of an invasive species arriving. However, once invasive species have invaded an ecosystem, it is rarely economically or physically viable to eradicate them. Policy after invasion then focuses on restoration or returning habitats to their un-invaded states. We determine the optimal prevention of invasion of the emerald ash borer in Colorado, given the timing of invasion is uncertain and that managers may be able to restore the invaded ecosystem upon an invasive species arrival. Results are used to generate a switching frontier where it is optimal to invest (or not) in prevention given combinations of the probability of invasion, effectiveness of prevention efforts, and restoration possibilities.

DOI:10.1016/j.jfe.2017.03.002