title: Eradicating the grey squirrel Sciurus carolinensis from urban areas: an innovative decision-making approach based on lessons learnt in Italy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Eradication of invasive alien species supports the recovery of native biodiversity. A new European Union Regulation introduces obligations to eradicate the most harmful invasive species. However, eradications of charismatic mammals may encounter strong opposition. Considering the case study of the eastern grey squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis Gmelin, 1788) in central Italy, we developed a structured decision-making technique based on a Bayesian decision network model and explicitly considering the plurality of environmental values of invasive species management to reduce potential social conflicts.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The model identified priority areas for management activities. These areas corresponded to the core of the grey squirrel range, but they also included peripheral zones, where rapid eradication is fundamental to prevent the spread of squirrels. However, when the model was expanded to integrate the attitude of citizens towards the project, the intervention strategy slightly changed. In some areas, the citizens' support was limited, and this resulted in a reduced overall utility of intervention.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The suggested approach extends the scientific basis for management decisions, evaluated in terms of technical efficiency, feasibility and social impact. Here, the Bayesian decision network model analysed the potential technical and social consequences of management actions, and it responded to the need for transparency in the decision-making process, but it can easily be extended to consider further issues that are common in many mammal eradication programmes. Owing to its flexibility and comprehensiveness, it provides an innovative example of how to plan rapid eradication or control activities, as required by the new EU Regulation. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Environmental Protection and Research - ISPRA, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9915-3194
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: La Morgia
authors.affiliation: Istituto Oikos s.r.l., Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Daniele
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Paoloni
authors.affiliation: Institute for Environmental Protection and Research - ISPRA, Rome, Italy.|IUCN SSC Invasive Species Specialist Group.
authors.forename: Piero
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Genovesi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001499:Bayes Theorem; D002947:Cities; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources / Q000379:methods; D003657:Decision Making; D058865:Introduced Species; D007558:Italy; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D010571:Pest Control / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011639:Public Opinion; D012589:Sciuridae
keywords: Bayesian belief networks; adaptive management; decision support system; eradication; invasive alien species; social conflicts