Decision Support

Best Practice Guidelines
Making correct operational decisions on the ground is difficult if there are no tools to support decision making. The transfer of knowledge to an operational tool that is both pragmatic and feasible is critical in order to effectively manage the disease.
The development of Best Practice Guidelines have enabled us to inform forest users what they need to consider when undertaking an activity in an infected forest, in order to reduce the spread of the disease.
Research has underpinned the information in some of these guidelines. For example, research into the detection of kauri dieback has informed our sampling protocols and laboratory procedures, whereas other research looking into the spatial distribution of the disease in kauri wood subsequently informs our best practice guidelines for arborists.
Link to our Best Practice Guidelines are … https://www.kauridieback.co.nz/how-to-guides/
Prioritisation Tools
With a programme of this scale it’s important to prioritise where to spend time and resources to provide the best overall protection for kauri. To help assist this, a spatial geodatabase is currently being developed which will provide information to enable decision makers to make an informed decision on the best way to manage the disease in an area. For example, mapping the natural locations of kauri and its ecosystems as well as providing information on the type of vectors and other potential threats in these areas. These things help us understand the potential risks of the disease spreading and help support future management decisions.

Some recent research in this area
-
Independent knowledge review of the state of kauri dieback.
Objectives
To assess the knowledge of kauri dieback research, including sharing and aligning matauranga Maori, understanding of disease distribution, tools for managing the disease, use of regulatory tools and understanding the effectiveness of interventions.Outcomes
Key knowledge gaps identified and well resolved areas and recommendations on future research directions outlined. Shift focus from a single pathogen approach to looking at multiple drivers. A number of recommendations were made in regards to increasing research in certain areas (e.g. role of other drivers; alternative hosts; long term demographic modelling; broader forest ecology & demography; diversify investment to seek better diagnostic tools; matauranga Maori; economic & social implications) while other research areas are deemed to be of lower priority (e.g. management/control tools; host resistance and susceptibility; vector research).Research Provider
Lincoln UniversityContract Number
17762Research Status
CompletedPrioritisation & Optimisation Intervention Framework
Objectives
Decision Support Tool to aid in decision making around what factors you need to consider to prioritise and selecting the most appropriate mitigation measure.Outcomes
Decision Framework utilising a series of excel spreadsheets and guidance documents to determine prioritisation of an area.Research Provider
O'Connor SinclairContract Number
17679Research Status
Completed
For a view into the complete library of programme research and reports please see our Science Stocktake.
If you have any questions in relation to this area of research or the supporting reports please contact the Kauri Dieback team on the details below.
Please note that as more information becomes available on the nature of kauri dieback disease and the pathogen that causes it, some of these papers may be superseded.