This risk assessment protocol was adjusted by the Horus Institute and Rafael D. Zenni, currently a Professor at the Lavras Federal University (Minas Gerais, Brazil). The questions were maintained or adapted from protocols developed in Australia and New Zealand, then adapted to the Galapagos Islands (Ecuador). Initially adapted to Latin America, the version used here was adjusted for the climate types in Brazil.

The protocol was adjusted based on assessments performed for 114 plant species present in Brazil. Some of these were known to be invasive, others were apparently not invasive, or not aggressive. A few indigenous species were tested as well. Risk levels were adjusted based on the results (high risk, low risk or moderate risk (which requires further assessment). Assessments are only considered valid when more than 70% of questions are answered.

About 90% of species now invasive in Brazil were introduced intentionally. Had this protocol been used to assess risk before these introductions took place, there would be 10% of the invasive plants currently known.

List of plants with completed risk assessments