At the BCARM Forum, ArborCarbon joined a broader discussion on how biosecurity threats are affecting living plant collections and what needs to change if we want to detect problems earlier and respond more effectively.
Living collections are high-risk environments
Botanic gardens, curated landscapes, and managed collections bring together a wide range of species, often from different regions. That diversity is valuable, but it also increases exposure to pests and diseases that may not yet be widespread.
Once a pathogen or insect establishes itself in a collection, containment becomes difficult. By the time visible symptoms appear, spread is often already underway.
The limits of visual surveillance
Traditional biosecurity monitoring relies heavily on visual inspections. While essential, this approach has clear limits:
- It’s time-intensive
- It relies on human judgement
- It struggles to scale across large or complex sites
- It often detects problems after damage has begun
For organisations managing large or sensitive collections, this creates a constant tension between risk and available resources.
Using canopy data as an early warning system
ArborCarbon’s approach focuses on detecting change, not just damage.
High-resolution airborne imagery allows vegetation condition to be measured consistently across entire sites. Subtle shifts in canopy performance can indicate stress caused by pests, pathogens, water issues, or heat pressure before decline becomes obvious on the ground.
This creates an early warning layer that supports, rather than replaces, field expertise.
From detection to targeted response
When biosecurity data is spatially accurate and repeatable, responses can be more precise.
Instead of broad, resource-heavy inspections, managers can:
- Focus field teams on specific trees or zones
- Prioritise high-risk species and locations
- Monitor treatment effectiveness over time
- Demonstrate due diligence and defensible decision-making
For collections with cultural, scientific, or conservation value, this targeted approach reduces risk while making better use of limited budgets.
Building confidence under pressure
Biosecurity decisions are often made under scrutiny. Having a clear evidence base helps organisations act sooner and communicate decisions with confidence.
ArborCarbon works with government agencies, land managers, and custodians of important plant collections to support early detection, ongoing monitoring, and practical response planning.
🎥 Watch the BCARM Forum session: Managing biosecurity threats to plant collections
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kv4UpdaFTxo
