Table 1.

A general rubric for evaluating the desirability of eliminating local populations of an endemic species.

Category	Questions	Answers for the tsetse fly
Socioeconomic effects of the species	Is the species negatively affecting human health?	Yes, tsetse flies are the vectors of human sleeping sickness, a neglected tropical disease affecting the poorest populations in Africa
	Is the species negatively affecting human livelihoods?	Yes, tsetse flies are also vectors of animal trypanosomosis, which is reducing the overall cattle productions by 30%, also hampering integrated farming and innovation in cattle breeding.
Political, economic, and technical feasibility of elimination	Is there a political will to eliminate the species?	Yes, PATTEC initiative launched in 2001 by African states and supported by the African Union.
	Is elimination of the species cost effective?	Yes, as has been demonstrated by several benefit–cost studies.
	Is it technically possible to eliminate the species?	Yes, elimination achieved in several countries and territories
	Is elimination a long-term solution?	Mostly no, although eliminating some isolated populations of certain species appears to be a long-term solution.
Ecological and environmental effects of elimination	Would elimination of the species lead to an empty niche?	No. Not observed in territories in which tsetse flies were eliminated more than 20 years ago.
	Would elimination of the species have negative effects on other species in the food chain?	No. On the basis of current knowledge, tsetse flies have no important roles in food chains and no specific predators. They are predating vertebrates for blood.
	Would the elimination process negatively affect nontarget species?	No. Current control techniques are very specific and only have transitory impacts on nontarget species. Expeditious tsetse fly elimination would reduce insecticide use that can be ecotoxic.
	Would elimination negatively affect nontarget species?	Possibly yes. Tsetse flies can influence the relationship between domestic and wild fauna as well as the density of cattle. Necessity for agroecological development plan in case of elimination to mitigate risks.

Note: This rubric is based on instrumental values or disvalues associated with local elimination and therefore does not incorporate the intrinsic value of the species. For each category, we present global questions that should be addressed to decide the desirability of elimination to serve as a guideline for decision-making and then summarize replies for the specific case of tsetse flies.