Clearly, specialized search tools are necessary for such specialized topics as invasive species. There is an immediate need for concise and intelligent access to the information contained in multiple, linked databases. Databases must be designed to support risk assessments which can be used to prioritize efforts to exclude, eradicate, and control biological invaders. Also, databases with quarantine and trade implications should be designed to promote openness and sharing, rather than being restrictive. The problems with biological invaders are international.
Different countries can learn from one another s experiences.
Sharing information through databases among agencies and countries can greatly reduce costs of control. Identification of high-risk species, vectors, and pathways to prevent the introduction and spread to new locations is the key to safeguarding both agriculture and native biodiversity. Data sharing on an international scale affords both warning and assistance once an invasion has begun. Participants agreed on the need to engage international colleagues and establish collaborative linkages among their databases. Long-Term Database and Knowledge Needs.