Planning  Prevention  Risk Assessment  Incursion Response  Incursion Monitoring Assurance  Co-operation

STRATEGIC GOALS AND ACTIONS

Seven strategic goals have been identified along with appropriate actions. Each goal is a statement of the ultimate desired condition. Each goal is supported by rationale statements that explain the basis for the goal and actions.

The seven strategic goals address planning, prevention, risk and pathway assessment, incursion detection, incursion response, phytosanitary assurances, and national and international co-operation. Actions are identified to achieve goals, some of which require further analysis before implementation.

Goal. Biosecurity is considered in all structural and policy planning involving border operations, freight handling, industry export initiatives and forest health.

Rationale. The implementation of effective biosecurity strategies is intimately associated with the structure of responsible agencies and their role in the clearance of goods and people through New Zealand’s border. Direct involvement of the Standards Setting Team in the broader planning of border operations, forest health strategies and new forest produce export initiatives, will ensure biosecurity is integrated into these activities. Such a proactive consideration to biosecurity requirements will ensure best outcomes with least disruption of commercial activities.

Actions. The following actions should be taken to ensure border and forest health activities consider biosecurity implications at the planning stage:

• Develop a strong collaborative relationship with MAF Quarantine Services to ensure the inclusion of Standard Setting in their planning process. In particular be responsive to their technical support needs for particular strategies at the planning stage.

• Develop contingency plans which integrate organisational response to new incursions.

• Ensure input by Biosecurity Standards to forest health survey and surveillance methodologies. Provide technical support for, and sponsor research into, new Forest Health initiatives through on-the-ground involvement in trials and evaluations.

• Undertake the establishment of a dialogue with the Forest Industries Council, Forest Owners Association, environmental NGOs and importers and port users, on biosecurity issues affecting exporters and importers of forest produce. Provide technical advice and guidance on the biosecurity implications of trade with specific countries.

• Provide appropriate input to organisational planning and policy development of MAF in the area of biosecurity with particular reference to forestry. Take a proactive role to ensure the Biosecurity Standards Team are actively involved in, and contributing, to the wider needs of the organisation.

• Establish a relationship with the Biosecurity Policy Team which ensures the involvement of Biosecurity Standards in all relevant policy development. Provide technical support to new policy initiatives through the development of a close collaborative relationship.

Goal. Biosecurity standards which effectively prevent the entry of exotic forest insects and diseases into New Zealand without unnecessarily impending the movement of goods and people.

Rationale. The primary biosecurity strategy for the protection of New Zealand’s forests and forest industries will continue to be the exclusion of unwanted organisms from the country. Such exclusion will generally be implemented at the border through the inspection and sampling of forest produce. The effectiveness of this strategy will depend on how goods are selected for inspection and how such inspections are carried out. The development of standards based on biological knowledge, and recognising the practicality of their implementation within the border environment, provides a structure within which the risk, implementation and effectiveness can be considered. It also allows the widest input from the sector, researchers, and operational staff.

Actions. The following actions should be taken to ensure the development and review of standards which will be effective in preventing unwanted organisms from establishing in New Zealand’s forests:

• Develop standards which are clear, concise, technically justified and effective, for the importation of forest produce. Ensure the availability of standards and respond to requests for supporting information.

• Undertake consultation with all affected parties in the course of developing a standard. Provide feedback and final standard to all major groups directly affected by its implementation.

• Transfer phytosanitary measures off shore where ever possible. Harmonise standards internationally with particular reference to Australia.

• Recognise the impact of proposed new standards on other operations taking place in a common environment. Undertake to consult to minimise the impact of implementation of new standards on other operations consistent with biosecurity objectives.

• Ensure effective audit procedures are in place for all new standards. Manage the audit delivery process and review the operational implementation of standards as required.

Goal. Risk identification and evaluation to provide the technical justification for measures to reduce significant biosecurity threats.

Rationale. In the absence of unlimited resources and the impracticality of inspecting all goods that enter the country, the targeting of specific types of goods and entry pathways is inevitable. The more closely such targeting can be matched to actual biological risk the more effective the biosecurity outcome. Targeting requires specific initiatives to evaluate and prioritise risks using specifically designed studies and the analysis of existing data. The results of these initiatives can then be used as part of the overall biosecurity strategy both before, at, and beyond the border.

Actions. The following actions should be taken to ensure biosecurity resources are used to best effect by targeting areas of greatest risk:

• Identify all primary risk pathways through the country’s border and the data available to quantify the forestry biosecurity risk for each one.

• Undertake assessments of specific risk pathways for which data is lacking or inadequate, where the importance of the pathway is unknown or where the pathway is considered to be a high but unquantified risk.

• Carry out risk assessments of specific high-risk organisms identified in consultation with the forestry sector, its associated research organisations and international experts.

• Carry out risk assessments of specific goods or materials which might be important vectors of forest and forest products pests and diseases and prioritise these risks.

Goal. Capability to locate, identify and respond to new forest pest incursions through technical knowledge, skilled and experienced staff, and access to necessary resources for a rapid response.

Rationale. Effective response to new establishments is dependent on their early and accurate identification. This detection phase requires committed technical support by skilled staff in the monitoring of high-risk sites, closely linked to a diagnostic and evaluation capability by experienced forest pathologists and entomologists. This dedicated technical capability is considered fundamental to the detection and identification of new pest incursions early enough for eradication to be a viable option. This same skilled human resource base makes effective response to new incursions possible. However, the development of this strategic capability and access to the necessary resources must be in place prior to the incursions they will be asked to address.

Actions. The following actions should be taken to ensure the necessary capability is in place to locate, identify and respond to new insect and disease incursions:

• Maintain, through direct support, forestry sector dedicated diagnostic capability and its associated technical expertise.

• Ensure a forestry focused field surveillance capability through support for a nationally integrated forest health surveillance and detection team.

• Revise and further develop the forest insect and disease contingency plan to be validated through a comprehensive simulation exercise.

• Provide strong support for dedicated on-call funding to allow initial response to new incursions including surveys, technical evaluation, and response planning.

Goal. Monitoring of new incursions following initial response until an eradication programme is successful, or discontinued and the organism deemed to be established.

Rationale. Eradication of newly detected pests and diseases may require a number of years of effort before the battle is relinquished or eradication considered successful. Effective monitoring of the pest population is fundamental to the measurement of success or failure. Monitoring capability is dependent on technical knowledge, capability (in the area of pheromones for example), and trained field staff to implement monitoring strategies. Resources and capability to carry out such monitoring is commonly needed after the major eradication initiative has ceased.

Actions. The following actions should be taken to ensure effective monitoring of new incursions for as long as technically justified:

• Establish strong linkages with research organisations working in the fields of agriculture and horticulture and off shore forestry organisations.

• Ensure a forestry focused field capability through support for a nationally integrated forest health surveillance and monitoring team.

• Support initiatives to introduce new technology, in particular remote sensing, to forest health monitoring.

• Obtain sufficient resources within specific eradication programmes to undertake post-eradication monitoring.

• Undertake management of audit delivery for all parts of the monitoring process.

Goal. Assurances provided by MAF Reg are technically defensible and based on clearly defined and audited specifications acceptable to the trading partner.

Rationale. Assurances provided by the New Zealand Government must be supported by specifications and processes which demonstrate a commitment to meet the requirements of our trading partners. Assurances must show that New Zealand’s concern for biosecurity includes a commitment to meet the requirements of importing countries and not knowingly export damaging insects and diseases to our trading partners. The establishment of confidence by our trading partners in the high quality of Government assurance is a key element of this commitment.

Actions. The following actions should be taken to ensure the recognition of Government phytosanitary assurances:

• Actively encourage forest produce exporters to develop phytosanitary assurance agreements with importing countries.

• Undertake, as appropriate, the development of assurance specifications, processes, and audits on a cost recovery basis.

• Provide technical support and defence of Government assurances when required.

• Maintain an active presence in international forums dealing with phytosanitary assurances and agreements.

Goal. Co-operate in the evaluation, design and execution of all biosecurity initiatives, involving sector knowledge, technical expertise and operational experience, to provide the highest probability of success.

Rationale. Biosecurity in the forestry sector has traditionally involved a high level of co-operation both formal and informal. Strong linkages between research, operations, and industry, through such bodies as the Forest Biosecurity Advisory Committee, the Forest Health Collaborative, and the Forest Owners Association, have lead to a common view and commitment to forest protection. However, as recent experience has shown in the White Spotted Tussock Moth programme, skills and experience exist outside the forestry sector which can greatly contribute to a programme’s success. The challenge is to ensure such expertise is incorporated into biosecurity initiatives at an early stage through prior knowledge and linkages.

Actions. The following actions should be taken to ensure the widest possible Co-operation in biosecurity initiatives:

• Establish strong linkages with research organisations not directly involved in the forestry sector.

• Encourage active participation in sector organisations with an interest in biosecurity.

• Maintain linkages with key contributors to past biosecurity operations.

• Establish co-operative working relationships with international experts and forest biosecurity organisations.