Cost Analysis and Biological Ramifications for Implementing the Gypsy Moth Slow the Spread Program

Book excerpt: The gypsy moth Slow the Spread Program aims to reduce the rate of gypsy moth, Lymantria dispar (L.), spread into new areas in the United States. The annual budget for this program has ranged from $10-13 million. Changes in funding levels can have important ramifications to the implementation of this program, and consequently affect the rate of gypsy moth spread. This report presents a cost analysis for implementing the Slow the Spread Program across a range of funding levels, and predicts the consequent changes in gypsy moth spread rates. This work should be useful to program managers in implementing the Slow the Spread Program given yearly financial constraints, and more generally could serve as a template for barrier zone management programs against other nonindigenous species.