Ecological and economic impact of the polyphagous shot hole borer

<p>The potential economic impact of the polyphagous shot hole borer in South Africa amounts to a whopping R275 billion over the next ten years, if nothing is done to stem the tide. The shot hole borer was first detected in South Africa in 2012 and has since spread to eight of South Africa’s nine provinces, making it the largest current outbreak of this invasive pest globally. In this podcast, ecologists and an economist from Stellenbosch University explain why the impact of the polyphagous shot hole borer is not only an ecological, but also an economic problem.</p> <p>Speakers:</p> <p>Prof Francois Roets, Department of Conservation Ecology and Entomology, Faculty of AgriSciences</p> <p>Prof Brian van Wilgen, Center for Invasion Biology, Faculty of Science</p> <p>Prof Martin de Wet, School for Public leadership, Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences</p>