The Economics of Invasive Species: Lessons from Hawaii

Kimberly Burnett, Assistant Professor of Economics

Once established, invasive species can rapidly and irreversibly alter ecosystems and degrade the value of ecosystem services. This presentation will highlight my research in Hawaii, which focuses on selection of management strategies (“prevention” and “control”) to minimize expected total losses associated with invasion.

The shrubby tree, Miconia calvescens, is used to illustrate dynamic policy options for an existing invader. Potential damages to Hawaii's ecosystems are related to decreased aquifer recharge, biodiversity, and other ecosystem values. The Brown Tree Snake, Boiga irregularis, is used to illustrate management options for an invasive species that may not be present but has a high likelihood of arriving and that will cause extensive economic damages if established. For BTS, these concerns include damages to Hawaii's biodiversity, human health concerns, and power supply interruptions.  

Eleutherodactylus coqui, a small frog native to Puerto Rico, was introduced to Hawaii in the late 1980s, presumably as a hitchhiker on plant material from the Caribbean or Florida.  The severity of the frogs' songs on the island of Hawaii has lead to a hypothesis touted both in the scientific community and in the popular media that the presence of the frog on or near a property results in a decline in that property's value. The presentation will conclude by discussing the noise pollution costs associated with the coqui's loud mating songs through a hedonic pricing model.