Conservation decisions under pressure: lessons from an exercise in rapid response to wildlife disease

摘要: Novel outbreaks of emerging pathogens require rapid responses to enable successful mitigation. We simulated a 1‐day emergency meeting where experts were engaged recommend mitigation strategies for new outbreak the amphibian fungal pathogen Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans. Despite inevitable uncertainty, suggested and discussed several possible strategies. However, their recommendations undermined by imperfect initial definitions objectives scope management. This problem is likely arise in most real‐world situations. The exercise thus highlighted importance clearly defining context, objectives, spatial–temporal scale decisions. Managers are commonly under pressure act immediately. an iterative process which managers cooperate clarify uncertainties, while collecting more information devising strategies, may be slightly time consuming but ultimately lead better outcomes.