Biosecurity is meant to address systematic vulnerabilities to the biological ecosystem to preserve lives and livelihoods. It is necessary to reduce exposures and risks that can cause harm e.g. in a home you have windows and doors as part of the security system and you may also have burglar bars which are designed to keep out criminals from your home. In a similar way these windows and doors, which are a form of border security, also keep out unwanted pests such as rodents, cockroaches, centipedes, slugs, mosquitoes, etc to reduce contact with persons who reside in the home. So we actually practice biosecurity every day even at a very basic level.
Biosecurity spans a very wide diversity of professions and areas of study including anthropology, social sciences, culture, political science, agriculture, plant health, biology, chemistry, disaster management, economics, environmental management, international development, data sciences, international relations, medicine, legal profession, peace and conflict resolution, advocacy and policy development, information technology, public health, national defense, international trade and veterinary science.
The Caribbean is comprised of several small island developing states (SIDS) which face a plethora vulnerabilities including severe weather systems, climate change, infectious diseases, chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs), natural disasters, water scarcity, energy demand, waste management, man-made disasters (environmental pollution, terrorism, etc.), cybercrime, financial crimes.
Given the broad scope of biosecurity there are several organisations at the governmental, national, regional and international level that are directly involved in biosecurity activities including CARPHA, CARICOM, WHO, PAHO.
