Training And Implementation Guide For Pathway Definition .

Training and ImplementationGuide for Pathway Definition,Risk Analysis and Risk Prioritization11This guide was developed to address issuespertaining to invasive species. Processes arealso relevant to other pest risk managementactivities.Developed jointly by the Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force (ANSTF) andNational Invasive Species Council (NISC) Prevention Committeevia the Pathways Work TeamThis Guide Only Applies to Unintentional, Man-Made PathwaysIssuance date: January 20071

A Note To UsersThis training guide is designed to be continually enhanced and updated based upon userperspectives and revisions. As such, as you use this guide, please make note of any issues,unclear expectations or revisions you believe necessary to enable users to better developpathway definitions, prioritization and analyses. Suggested changes may be forwarded to thefollowing:Penny Kriesch, Chair NISC Pathways CommitteeU.S. Department of AgricultureAnimal Plant Health Inspection ServicePlant Protection and QuarantinePlant Health Programs, Policy Analysis Regulatory CoordinationMail: 4700 River road; Unit 156; Mal Stop 21; Suite 4A03.18Riverdale, MD 20737e-mail: penny.e.kriesch@aphis.usda.gov2

Invasive SpeciesPathways GuideTable of ContentsPathway Assessment ManagementRisk Analysis Report-Out1. The Program2. The Process Overview3. Preparation1. Report Components‘First-Cut’ Analysis - Multiple PathwayTriage and Threat Level AssessmentFrom Science to Policy1. Overarching Pathway Definition2. Defining Multiple (i.e., Mission-Based)Pathways of Interest3. Preliminary Multi-Pathway Descriptions4. Pathway Threat Level (Human, Economyor Ecosystem)5. Finalizing the ‘First-Cut’ Analysis1. Situation modifiers and Policy Outcomes2. NISC, ISAC and Pathways3. International Resource Management –Pathways Team Proposal‘Second-Cut’ Analysis - Single PathwayDefinition, Coupling of Related InvasiveSpecies with Threat Level Confirmation1.2.3.4.5.Detailed Single Pathway DescriptionDetailed Invasives DefinitionsEcosystem ScopeExemplar Ecosystem ChartsFinalizing the “Second-Cut” Analysis“Third-Cut’ Analysis - Single PathwayRisk Analysis via Expert Consensus1. Individual to Focus Group – ExpertAnalysis2. Processes for Risk ANALYSIS3. Risk Analysis via Survey Questionnaire4. Pathway Assignment to Scale ofInvasiveness5. Finalizing the “Third-Cut Analysis3

PATHWAY ASSESSMENT MANAGEMENT1. THE PROGRAMThe purpose of pathway risk analysis is to provide scientific analyses and policy recommendations insupport of U.S. National Invasive Species Council’s Management Plan. These analyses andrecommendations must comply with the Plan’s mandates to: ensure Federal efforts are coordinated and effectivepromote action and partnership at local, State, tribal and ecosystem levelsidentify recommendations for international cooperation; and,facilitate networks to document, monitor and prioritize invasive species pathwaysThough many definitions for invasive species and pathways may exist, we are defining these terms asthey relate to Federal regulatory functions. Definitions are recounted, below:Invasive species (IS) - - an alien species whose introduction does or is likely to causeeconomic or environmental harm or harm to human health.Pathways - - the means by which species are transported from one location to another.Natural pathways include wind, currents, and other forms of dispersal in which a specificspecies has developed morphological and behavioral characteristics to employ. Manmade pathways are those pathways which are enhanced or created by human activity.These are characteristically of two types: Intentional pathways - - these result from deliberate actions to translocate anorganism. Unintentional pathways - - these are man-made pathways that unintentionallymove organisms. Examples of unintentional pathways are ballast waterdischarge (e.g. red-tide organisms), soil associated with the trade of nurserystock (e.g. fire ants), importation of fruits and vegetables (e.g. plant pests),and the international movement of people (e.g. pathogens). In these, themovement of species is an indirect byproduct of our activities.This guide only addresses analysis of the second type of pathway: existing unintentional, manmade invasive species pathways; with a section devoted to policy synthesis. Though guide processesmay be used for potential pathway analysis, such analysis must be based upon statistical predictiveindicators of past trends - - which at this time is not feasible due to lack of consolidated data sources. Forour purposes, analysis and policy synthesis are defined as:Analysis-- the procedure by which we scientifically break down a ‘whole’ phenomena(i.e., unintentional IS incursions) into its parts or components.Policy Synthesis-- the process by which we combine the analysis components into acomprehensive perspective to devise copasetic IS policies and actions on the local,regional, national and international levels.Invasive species definitions are posted at: ml4

2. THE PROCESS OVERVIEWThe process for pathway analysis and prioritization has been ‘broken down’ into five basic steps. Thesesteps are designed to ensure the matching of mission areas with pathways of interest; use of most recentliterature and datasets relevant to the pathways; analysis based upon expert opinions; and science-basedconsensus advisories.The schematic below provides a visual reference guide; with each step then described in detail.Define Organizational Role in Invasive Species (IS)Pathway AnalysisFlowchart For PathwayManagement ActivitiesPreparationConduct IS and pathway literature and study searchCompile pertinent statistical indicators, trends, analyses1‘First – Cut’ Analysis(Multiple Pathways of Interest and ThreatLevel Distribution)MultiplePathwayTriage andThreat LevelAssessment2Prepare List of pathway experts, facilitators and recordersProvide List of All Potential Pathways and organizationmission statement to multiple pathway experts, individuallyProvide Pathway “Triage” instructions for CompletionConvene panel to resolve ‘triage’ discrepanciesAnalyze Pathway “First-Cut” Rankings (i.e., description/ISthreat level, and ecosystem scope)Create Expert Sub-teams for each type pathway‘Second – Cut’ Analysis(Single Pathway Definition, Threat Leveland Ecosystem Scope)Single at-level review3Third – Cut’ Analysis(Single Pathway Risk Analysis andRankings)Single PathwayConsensusRisk AnalysisAnd AssignmentTo Scale ofInvasiveness4Final Reports toDecision andPolicy MakersReport - OutPathways Of InterestIdentify associated Invasives of Interest relative to pathwayDefine Invasive Vectors on pathwayRedefine, if necessary, Triage threat level & ecosystemscopeProvide Initial Triage, background information and riskanalysis questions to experts (i.e., 3-5 persons, at min)Ensure completion and receipt of individual pathway riskrankings and analysesConduct risk AnalysisAssign Pathway to General Scale of InvasivenessIS Program Team forwards Reports to Agency Decision andPolicy MakersNational & Regional Pathways Results Forwarded to NISC5End ProductsAgency List of ISDefine Single Pathway-including sub-segmentsPathwayStratificationPolicy MakerAdvisoriesAnalysis Reports byIndividuals/GroupsIS Experts ListNote: The purpose of pathway analysis, again, is to develop a science-based riskreport that will be used by policy makers to develop local, national and internationalstrategies. The value of the assessment is in terms of scientific discussion andconclusions - - and as such is not solely the results of numerical tabulations.5

3. PREPARATIONConvene a Consensus Analysis Pathways Team (CAPT). It is recommended that each agency forman Invasive Species (IS) Consensus Analysis Pathways Team (CAPT) to manage the individual andgroup processes/documentation associated with pathway analyses. It is recommended the CAPT be apermanent standing committee and should be comprised of 3-5 persons (including a chair and recorder).CAPT should first perform the following functions prior to any pathway analyses:A. Define organizational mission relative to invasive species (IS). The perspective and actionstaken by an agency relative to invasive species is dependent upon the mission and itsobjectives. This definition is critical and serves as the foundation for all pathway activities. Anexample follows below:Mission: USDA APHIS mission is to protect the health and value of American agriculture andnatural resources. APHIS also addresses sanitary and phytosanitary trade barriers and certainissues related to the humane treatment of animals. Finally, APHIS ensures that biotechnologyderived agricultural products are safe for release into the environment.StrategicMission AreasIS FunctionsDefined IS RoleGoalsAnimal Care (determinesGoal 1:Not Applicable Not ApplicableSafeguard thestandards of humane care andhealth oftreatment of animals).animals, plantsBiotechnology and Regulatory IndirectNot Applicableand ecosystems Services (Ensures safe dev. ofin the Unitedgenetically engineeredStatesorganisms)Goal 2.International Services andNot ApplicableIndirectFacilitate safeTrade Support (Internat’lagriculturalanimal and plant healthtradeexpertise to enhanceGoal 3. Ensuresafeguarding and trade).the effectivePlant Protection andDirectSafeguards agriculture andand efficientQuarantine (safeguardsnatural resources from themanagement of agriculture and naturalrisks assoc with entry,programs toresources from the risks assocestablishment, or spread ofachieve APHIS’ with entry, establishment, oranimal and plant pestsmissionspread of animal and plant(inclusive of invasive species)pests and noxious weeds)and noxious weedsVeterinary Services (protectsDirectProtects and improves theand improves the health,health, quality, andquality, and marketability ofmarketability of nation'snation's animals, animalanimals, animal products andproducts and veterinaryveterinary biologics (inclusivebiologics)of prevention, detection orelimination of relevant invasivespecies)Wildlife Services (resolveNot Applicable Not Applicablewildlife conflicts/createsbalance)(Note: this is only for example)6

The remainder of activities during this phase center upon creating internal infrastructures to accomplishprogram tasks. As such they include:B. Develop a general list of qualified group facilitators and recordersC. Compile general collection of qualitative information sources on IS. Though pathway-specificquantitative benchmarks and datasets are to be researched to assist pathway prioritization, asignificant lack of data history causes the use of additional qualitative methods for pathwayassessment; specifically, document and scientific studies. Researched through suchavenues as bibliographic literature searches, scientific journals, et. al., these pathway-specificdocuments are to be supplied to participants several weeks prior to the “Step 2” to create acommon knowledge base for discussion and comparison.D. Communicate the role of CAPT to appropriate organization personnel7