Assessing the success of invasive species prevention efforts at changing the behaviors of recreational boaters

Richardson

Journal of Environmental Management

et al. 2019

238

227

Human perceptions of nature and the environment are increasingly being recognised as important for environmental management and conservation. Understanding people's perceptions is crucial for understanding behaviour and developing effective management strategies to maintain, preserve and improve biodiversity, ecosystem services and human well-being. As an interdisciplinary team, we produced a synthesis of the key factors that influence people's perceptions of invasive alien species, and ordered them in a conceptual framework. In a context of considerable complexity and variation across time and space, we identified six broad-scale dimensions: (1) attributes of the individual perceiving the invasive alien species; (2) characteristics of the invasive alien species itself; (3) effects of the invasion (including negative and positive impacts, i.e. benefits and costs); (4) socio-cultural context; (5) landscape context; and (6) institutional and policy context. A number of underlying and facilitating aspects for each of these six overarching dimensions are also identified and discussed. Synthesising and understanding the main factors that influence people's perceptions is useful to guide future research, to facilitate dialogue and negotiation between actors, and to aid management and policy formulation and governance of invasive alien species. This can help to circumvent and mitigate conflicts, support prioritisation plans, improve stakeholder engagement platforms, and implement control measures.

Section: The Importance Of Understanding Perceptions For Managementmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: The Importance Of Understanding Perceptions For Managementmentioning

confidence: 99%

Explaining people's perceptions of invasive alien species: A conceptual framework

Richardson

Journal of Environmental Management

et al. 2019

238

227

Emerging Topics in Life Sciences

“…channels, does not automatically translate into additional knowledge and awareness, and changed behaviours [29]. Communication should also be a two-way process of mutual learning, such that communicators understand the recreationists' perspectives on risks, their observations, concerns and experiences [30].…”

Section: Consistent Messagingmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Specifically, people said they get information online about the environment, plants and trees, and conservation organisations were mentioned as trusted sources they use to find out about trees and plants [ 27 ]. Nevertheless, it is important to recognise that providing additional information, even through trusted sources, and well-used channels, does not automatically translate into additional knowledge and awareness, and changed behaviours [ 29 ]. Communication should also be a two-way process of mutual learning, such that communicators understand the recreationists’ perspectives on risks, their observations, concerns and experiences [ 30 ].…”

Section: Principles Of Stakeholder Engagement For Behavioural Changementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Recognition and awareness of a biosecurity campaign logo and slogan used in GB was investigated with regard to P. ramorum [ 27 ]. There is also evaluation of programmes relating to alien invasive species in aquatic environments, including the New Zealand version of the ‘Check, Clean, Dry’ campaign aimed at water users [ 35 ], and two studies examining outreach programmes in Illinois, U.S.A. [ 25 , 29 ].…”

Section: Effectiveness Of Behavioural Change Interventions Relating Tmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Understanding how best to engage recreationists in biosecurity to reduce the impacts of tree diseases: a review

Marzano

O’Brien

2020

Pests and diseases introduced from other countries are known to pose a threat to trees, woods and forests in many locations throughout the world. Once introduced they can be spread inadvertently by countryside visitors hiking, biking or riding along paths and trails through wooded areas. Engaging and communicating with these groups of countryside users to encourage and facilitate positive biosecurity behaviours is crucial for the future resilience of trees, woods and forests. This review draws on literature outlining principles for stakeholder engagement in forestry as well as evaluations of biosecurity campaigns from around the world. Key points are briefly presented for communicators aiming to encourage better biosecurity in the countryside. These include, the need to design campaigns based on the values and motivations of recreationists, using trusted information sources and understanding the importance of combining information with facilities so as to reduce the cost (in terms of effort and inconvenience) to hikers and other countryside users.

N American J Fish Manag

Reducing Invasive Species Transport among Recreational Anglers: The Importance of Values and Risk Perceptions

Golebie

Riper

Suski

et al. 2021

The behavioral patterns of recreational anglers are an increasingly common focus of fishery management agencies, particularly due to the unintentional spread of aquatic invasive species. Previous research in this area has focused on understanding stakeholder awareness, use patterns, and beliefs. Although informative, these drivers of behavior are easily shifted by new information and are thus potentially less influential for encouraging long-term behavior change. There is a pressing need to account for the effects of human values in management of aquatic invasive species because values are a fundamental driver of behavior that changes slowly over time and represents a core basis for angler decision making. Therefore, this study assessed the relationships among values, risk perceptions, and reported aquatic invasive species prevention behavior to inform management decisions aimed at minimizing angler transport of aquatic invasive species. We generated a data set from a mixed-mode survey of license-holding recreational anglers from counties adjacent to the Great Lakes in three U.S. states (n = 788). Results from a structural equation model revealed that biospheric values positively predicted social and personal risk perceptions. Personal risk perceptions in turn positively predicted private and public dimensions of reported behaviors related to reducing the spread of aquatic invasive species. Efforts to reduce the spread of aquatic invasive species within the study context would be best served by emphasizing the personal impacts rather than broader social and ecological consequences from biological invasions. Agencies should also shift their attention to thinking about the role of values in explaining how people process and respond to environmental threats and degradation from aquatic invasive species.