Scientists whose research has focused on border and post-border biosecurity in New Zealand. Key researcher in a study to examine the biosecurity risks posed by international passengers . The Better Border Biosecurity (B3) project funded by the New Zealand government brings together biological and social scientists in the tourism, biosecurity and pathways project. Aims include identiofication of biological risk and development of mitigation strategies, including behaviour changes, to protect sensitive environments (e.g. native forests, vineyards, farms) from potential pests and diseases carried inadvertently by travelers. A key research project determined that contaminated footwear carried by air passengers can carry unwanted and viable seeds, nematodes, insects and plant pathogens. Project leader for B3 project to investigate the value of expatriate sentinel plants, growing in overseas arboreta or botanic gardens, to act as an early warning of insect pest or plant disease attack. The concept is forewarned is forearmed, and aimed at protecting New Zealand's native and culturally significant plants from invasive pests.
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