New Zealand’s system to protect against the invasion of non-native species is the most advanced in the world, but globalization is making it increasingly likely that the system will be breached and the country’s environment and agriculture disrupted. Over time, the country’s geographic isolation led it to develop a unique ecosystem and helped protect its agriculture from the pests and disease found elsewhere in the world. But international tourism and trade is making it harder to guard against invaders like snakes, mites, animal viruses, and plant fungi. Says Ruth Frampton of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, “A biosecurity system may be more important than traditional defenses such as an army or air force.”
