Biosecurity Toolkit
This toolkit serves as a collection of programmatic, operational, and educational materials that can be adapted for use by island conservation managers and stakeholders operating across various scales and systems. The toolkit is not a step-by-step guide to creating a biosecurity program from the ground up, but rather provides a set of building blocks that Island Protected Area (IPA) managers can borrow, combine, and modify based on their needs and capacities.
The resources in this toolkit address the most important components of a successful biosecurity program, including assigning biosecurity roles and responsibilities to staff, assessing risks of new invasions, orienting new personnel to biosecurity programs, developing a biosecurity plan, writing contracts that promote secure transport of people and cargo to islands, identifying and communicating with key groups of island visitors, and building collaboration between island stakeholders. These tools were developed and refined through our own efforts building and maintaining the Channel Islands Biosecurity Program, with lessons adopted from successful island biosecurity programs around the world.
This toolkit is organized into three sections:
Foundational Documents. Foundational documents form the underlying structure of a biosecurity program and include plans, position descriptions, and contract language.
Prevention. Prevention-oriented documents provide guidance for safe transport of people and materials to islands, including through outreach.
Early Detection/Rapid Response (EDRR). EDRR documents provide step-by-step instructions for actions to take before, during, and after a biosecurity incursion.
Each of the three sections contains both templates and example documents.
early Detection and rapid response (EDRR)
Foundational Documents
Documents in this section support the creation of a culture of biosecurity across programs and organizations, ensuring that key stakeholders’ roles, responsibilities, and objectives are clearly defined and working cooperatively to supporting IPA biosecurity.
Island Biosecurity Position Descriptions
Biosecurity roles and duties should be included in all appropriate position descriptions and relevant work plans (Figure 1). Here we have developed a template for integrating biosecurity roles into new or existing job descriptions, both for positions that are entirely focused on biosecurity, and for positions with more limited time allocated to biosecurity program support.
Figure 1. Cross divisional biosecurity responsibilities for Island Protected Area staff.
Boilerplate Contract Language
The inclusion of biosecurity language in legally binding documents enables IPA managers to hold contractors accountable for their part in preventing, quickly detecting, and effectively responding to introductions of invasive species. Contracts should include definitions for commonly used biosecurity terms, examples of necessary actions, roles and responsibilities, and proper threat response steps.
New Employee Orientation
To ensure the propagation of a strong biosecurity culture within an organization, it is crucial that new employees are immediately introduced to relevant biosecurity protocols, materials, and resources. Below is an example from the Channel Islands National Park on-boarding process.
Biosecurity Plans
Biosecurity plans serve as strategic, long-term guidelines for biosecurity programs and are essential components of IPA management. Involving partners and stakeholders early on in the development of biosecurity plans increases the likelihood of adoption, buy-in, and participation in the program by key players. Templates and examples of biosecurity plans are linked below.
Communication Plan and Tactics
A Communications Plan identifies communication objectives, audiences, strategies, timelines, key messages, and FAQs, and serves as a roadmap for the implementation of biosecurity outreach efforts. Crafting audience-specific messaging helps ensure that the various stakeholders receive targeted information that pertains to their unique interests in and operations on IPAs.
Biosecurity Working Group Document
The document linked below outlines the goals of the California Islands Biosecurity Working Group and important responsible parties; provides succinct overviews of current biosecurity practices and communications strategies; and includes recommendations for improving island biosecurity. Unlike a biosecurity plan, this document describes a shared biosecurity ethos and may provide general guidance, but does not issue directives to collaborating island managers.
Prevention
Preventing invasive species from being introduced to IPAs is far more cost-effective than engaging in EDRR after an introduction has occurred. This includes institutionalizing consistent, thorough inspections of high-risk cargo and personal belongings for weed seeds, insects, and small vertebrates. We also include example documents providing guidance on the safe sourcing, transport, and disposal of certain high-risk materials (e.g. soil, green waste, construction materials).
Templates
Examples
Education and Outreach Materials
Providing continual, repeated, and highly tailored communications ensures that biosecurity remains foremost in the priorities of island staff, visitors and other stakeholders as they go about their island-based activities. This information should be transmitted in a variety of formats, including videos, social media, or other avenues of communication.
Biosecurity Sticker
This biosecurity sticker was created to be shared with Channel Islands visitors and stakeholders. It draws attention to the importance of biosecurity and provides easy access to additional information and educational resources via a QR code. It was handed out at the Channel Islands Symposium and intermittently handed out at key mainland departure points as visitors get ready to head to the islands.
Staff Signage
This sign was developed for Channel Islands National Park staff, who have unique risk profiles and exceptional access to remote parts of the islands, making it especially important that they take steps to minimize the risk of carrying invasive species. Copies of the sign are provided to staff members and posted in park staff areas to educate and remind of proper biosecurity protocols while on island and while planning for future trips.
This short educational video introduces island visitors to biosecurity and describes how they can contribute to protecting the island from invasive species . The video is posted on the NPS and TNC website under the biosecurity sections. It is also posted on the website for the boating concessionaire that all island tourists use to reach the islands.
Clean Your Shoes
This sign was developed as part of efforts to increase personal gear cleaning by staff and contractors. Having several reminders of clearly explained and proper cleaning procedures is crucial. This sign is posted where persons wait to board the NPS boat at the manifest/check-in area and at the boot cleaning station for users to follow.
Biosecurity Checklist
This checklist is for all persons traveling to the Channel Islands via the National Park Service (NPS) boats to ensure they comply with all biosecurity guidelines and are free of potential invasive species. The checklist includes actions to take for personal items, cargo, and research equipment before individuals embark on their journey. It is posted at the manifest/check-in area for persons traveling to the islands via the NPS boats as a last minute reminder of what actions to complete before loading their equipment and persons on to the boat.
Naval Base Signage
San Nicolas Island (SNI) is a detachment of Naval Base Ventura County (California). This sign was developed to educate personnel travelling or sending cargo to the island about the harmful impacts that invasive species could have on the Navy’s mission there, and on actions individuals can take to ensure that they do not carry or send invasive species there. This sign is posted at key mainland departure parts such as boat yards and cargo loading areas for personnel traveling to the island as well as in buildings and office on island to remind personnel while on island.
Naval Base Trifold
The Channel Islands Biosecurity Manager and Naval Base Ventura County’s Natural Resource Managers, created this trifold to educate Navy staff, contractors and researchers traveling to San Nicolas Island. Given the U.S. Navy’s mission, the messaging focuses on the harmful effects that invasive species could have on humans and military operations. Copies of the trifold are provided at the mainland and island air terminals, which are the main departure points for personnel traveling to and from the island.
Do Not Spread
This sign was developed in response to the spread of an invasive plant species on Santa Cruz Island. When an invasive species individual or population is discovered on an IPA, it is prudent to have and post signs like this in effected areas to ensure it does not spread. It is posted across the area highlighted in red near the infected region to educate those traveling on island to avoid the area.
Biosecurity Checklist
This checklist is for all persons travelling to the Channel Islands. This is a general checklist that can be used for any visitor, researcher, volunteer, etc. Having a checklist like this is helpful to ensure visitors are properly educated on biosecurity protocols as they pack for their time on island. This can easily be converted for you own Island Protected Area with your specific needs/requirements.
Staff Signage
Island Packers Company (IPCO) is the sole concessionaire to transport visitors via boat to and from Channel Islands National Park. This sign is addressed to IPCO employees to remind them of the importance of biosecurity for the Park, and of the important roles they play in preventing the transport of new invaders themselves and by IPCO customers. Copies of the sign are provided to staff members and posted in IPCO staff areas to educate and remind of proper biosecurity protocols.
Landing Permit Guidelines
This document is emailed to all persons who receive a landing permit from The Nature Conservancy allowing them to land on the organization’s Santa Cruz Island Preserve from personal watercraft. It reminds them to have a clean vessel and equipment and to check for stowaways before landing on the Preserve.
Rapid Ohia Death (ROD)
Rapid Ohia Death (ROD) is fungal pathogen that kills the endemic 'ōhi'a lehua tree (Metrosideros polymorpha) in Hawai’i. The ROD materials were produced by the University of Hawaii and several state and federal agencies to help educate local stakeholders on the threats this pathogen poses to Hawai’ian forests, actions individuals should take to help reduce its spread, and printable activities for school groups. These materials are shared to and used by various groups including local individuals, schools, open managing agencies, government agencies, and tourists.
Wanted- Invasive Species
Creating a sign similar to this during an invasive species discovery helps to educate staff (and visitors) on what to look out for/ report to the biosecurity manager. This poster is displayed shared with all island staff as well as posted at frequented island buildings like offices, housing, and common areas so all persons on island are aware of the invasive species.
Early Detection and Rapid Response (EDRR)
EDRR SOPs outline step-by-step, reproducible actions that should be taken before, during, and after biosecurity incursions occur. With pre-identified roles and responsibilities, action plans, and necessary equipment in place, well-written and enforceable SOPs create consistent responses, reducing the risk of errors and omissions that can occur in the “fog of war”. Below is an EDRR Program Template created by Pacific Regional Invasive Species Management Support Service.
EDRR Program Template- Pacific Regional Invasive Species Management Support Service (PRISMSS)
Early Detection
Rapid Response
