A DYNAMIC ECOLOGICAL-ECONOMIC MODEL AS A TOOL FOR CONFLICT-RESOLUTIONIN AN INVASIVE-ALIEN-PLANT, BIOLOGICAL-CONTROL AND NATIVE-PLANT SCENARIO

The release of biological control agents for the control of environmen tal weeds is often resisted by parties which utilize these plants. Thi s conflict is difficult to resolve because of the social, economic and ecological complexities involved. We construct an ecological-economic model to simulate the complex dynamics of the release of a biological control agent with the aim of developing a tool which can be used to facilitate conflict resolution in such situations. The model is applie d to an environmental weed which has invaded the lowland fynbos ecosys tems of South Africa, Acacia saligna; its biological control agent, Ur omycladium tepperianum; and a commercially desirable indigenous wildfl ower plant, Protea repens. The model is parameterized using data from field studies and a number of management scenarios are investigated. T he analysis indicates that the benefits of biological control have the potential to outweigh the costs, if the opportunities provided by the biological control agent are exploited. It is concluded that ecologic al-economic models have much potential for facilitating conflict resol ution. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.