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Published VersionCC BY V4.0, Open Access
Journal article
Biosecurity problem representation(s) by tree and forest health actors in Southeast Asia
Forest Policy and Economics, Vol.177, pp.1-9
2025
Abstract
Tree and forest biosecurity policies and practices are evolving in response to changing and growing threats. While much research is reflected in the literature on solving the problem(s) of biosecurity, less has been written about how the problem is represented. We analysed how the problem of tree and forest biosecurity is represented by researchers, quarantine and government officials in Southeast Asian countries. Foremost, we find, is a problem representation of protecting trees and forests from pest and disease threats, driven by the movement of goods and people across borders, for social and ecological benefits. Inside this problem representation there is an elaboration of technical and administrative challenges—what we call ‘inner’ problems. Away from these inner problems, however, we find less engagement with contextual issues in the problem representation—‘outer’ problems. These outer problems of social, economic and political aspects of the biosecurity problem are pivotal to understanding biosecurity's central dilemma, that is, conducting trade and movement of people while managing the risk of pest and disease spread. Representing biosecurity as a technical and administrative problem alone consolidates the idea of biosecurity as a problem only for experts. Here, we argue this representation should be challenged when a growing body of biosecurity research and policy discussion points to the need for relational, networked and shared responsibilities in biosecurity systems. Paying attention to how biosecurity is problematised, inner and outer, provides an opportunity to support policymakers and practitioners in developing diversified forest biosecurity social networks.
Details
- Title
- Biosecurity problem representation(s) by tree and forest health actors in Southeast Asia
- Authors
- Russell Warman (Corresponding Author) - University of TasmaniaSimon Lawson - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Forest Industries Research CentreMorag Glen - University of TasmaniaHarriot Beazley - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Law and SocietyMadaline Healey - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Forest Industries Research Centre
- Publication details
- Forest Policy and Economics, Vol.177, pp.1-9
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Date published
- 2025
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.forpol.2025.103509
- ISSN
- 1872-7050; 1389-9341
- Copyright note
- © 2025 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. This is an open access article under the CC BY license ( http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ ).
- Data Availability
- The data that has been used is confidential.
- Grants
- Organisation Unit
- Indigenous and Transcultural Research Centre; Forest Industries Research Centre; School of Law and Society; Sustainability Research Cluster
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 991127503202621
- Output Type
- Journal article
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