This is obviously going to affect a small body of people within the industry
However, if you are reading this thinking so what, here are a few facts as to why you should care that they get it right.
In Scotland it was estimated that approximately £450,000 per annum is spent by five key business units on plant health issues. The Forestry Commission
spends approximately £400,000 per year across Great Britain on plant/tree
health and Defra’s Plant Health Division spends in the region of £10 million
per annum, most of which is related to non-native species issues. The audit
also estimated that over £2.1 million was spent on non-native species issues
by key research units in 2005.
The classic example of invasive non-native species is the dreaded Japanese Knotweed, which is prolific in the UK since it’s introduction by the Victorians. Here is another example of cost to the UK taxpayer.
This importance of early detection and action is evident and the pace at which country-wide eradication can become untenable is illustrated with
Japanese knotweed - one of the best known established invasive non-native
plant species that continues to impose costs on many sectors. Research has
estimated that in Wales alone, it would have cost £53.3 million for a three
year eradication programme had it started in 2001, but the cost would now be
£76 million for such a programme starting in 2007.