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<p>Non-native woody invasive species pose significant ecological and economic challenges, particularly in forestry, where they disrupt ecosystems, reduce biodiversity, degrade habitat quality, and impose financial burdens on landowners. This study examines the direct and indirect costs of managing these invasives in the northeastern US. As part of our review, we analyze i) per-acre control expenses for mechanical removal, herbicide application, and prescribed burning as well as ii) losses in ecosystem services in the form of timber yields. Using cost data from the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and a regression framework, we assess how treatment scale, control method, and regional cost variations influence management expenses. Results indicate significant economies of scale, where larger treatment areas lower per-acre costs, and suggest that while integrated pest management (IPM) strategies are more expensive, they offer potential efficiency gains over standalone approaches. Moreover, economic assessments are likely to underestimate the full cost of woody invasions, as indirect ecosystem service losses remain inadequately quantified. Addressing these gaps requires improved valuation approaches that account for the dynamic nature of invasions, while policy efforts should prioritize cost-effective strategies that integrate ecological and economic considerations. Proactive management and strategic investments in invasive species control are essential to mitigating long-term ecological degradation and financial impacts on landowners and other stakeholders.</p>

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Managing the Economic Costs of Woody Invasive Species in the Northeast US

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年1月9日

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  • Ranjit Bawa,
  • Reinmar Seidler,
  • Abhishek Kaul

摘要

Non-native woody invasive species pose significant ecological and economic challenges, particularly in forestry, where they disrupt ecosystems, reduce biodiversity, degrade habitat quality, and impose financial burdens on landowners. This study examines the direct and indirect costs of managing these invasives in the northeastern US. As part of our review, we analyze i) per-acre control expenses for mechanical removal, herbicide application, and prescribed burning as well as ii) losses in ecosystem services in the form of timber yields. Using cost data from the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and a regression framework, we assess how treatment scale, control method, and regional cost variations influence management expenses. Results indicate significant economies of scale, where larger treatment areas lower per-acre costs, and suggest that while integrated pest management (IPM) strategies are more expensive, they offer potential efficiency gains over standalone approaches. Moreover, economic assessments are likely to underestimate the full cost of woody invasions, as indirect ecosystem service losses remain inadequately quantified. Addressing these gaps requires improved valuation approaches that account for the dynamic nature of invasions, while policy efforts should prioritize cost-effective strategies that integrate ecological and economic considerations. Proactive management and strategic investments in invasive species control are essential to mitigating long-term ecological degradation and financial impacts on landowners and other stakeholders.