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Abstract
Biosecurity incursion response decisions require timely, high quality information
involving science and economics. The value of the impact on indigenous biodiversity
is a key aspect of the economics typically involving cost-benefit analysis. The
hypothetical incursion of Biosecurity New Zealand’s top priority weed hydrilla
(Hydrilla verticillata) in a typical New Zealand lake (Lake Rotoroa otherwise known
as Hamilton Lake) elicits dollar values of impacts on indigenous biodiversity in a
freshwater environment. Using the stated preference tool, Choice Modelling, the
experimental design was maximised for efficiency of Willingness to Pay (WTP)
estimation. The survey method of community meetings of four population samples at
varying distances to the incursion site is a cross between a mail survey and an
individual interview survey. Results show an efficient design with minimal sample
size and biodiversity attributes that have values statistically different from zero but
not statistically different between locations.