Waugh, John D.

The expansion of international trade and air travel has led to an increase in human-mediated biological invasion, enabling invasive species to travel faster and over longer distances than before. Invasive species undermine human health, security and economic development. This report represents the preliminary steps in the triage and identification of pathways of high risk in the Caribbean. Its objective is to suggest priority areas for international cooperation in the management of risk from invasive species introductions via trade-related pathways in the Caribbean.

The growing pace of international commerce has created an increased risk of invasion by alien species, which often take root and thrive in their new environment, often at great costs for the local biota and economy. The risk of introduction of harmful organisms into the United States is increasing exponentially, with costs to the American economy measured in hundreds of billions of dollars. This report offers recommendations to improve biosecurity measures at US ports, as well as a possible funding mechanism based upon the polluter-pays principle.

Trade and travel are the primary drivers of biological invasion both into and within the United States, and prevention measures have been identified as the most cost-effective means of minimizing the introduction and impact of invasive species. A recognized gap in the US government’s knowledge of the role that trade has played in the introduction of invasive species into the US led to a study undertaken by the US Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of International Affairs and IUCN.