Effective Weed Management, Collective Action, and Landownership Change in Western Montana

Abstract

Rural landscapes are increasingly diverse and heterogeneous, involving a mix of small and large parcels, amenity and agricultural properties, and resident and absentee owners. Managing invasive plants in landscapes with changing ownership requires understanding the views and practices of different landowners. We surveyed landowners in two rural valleys with 26% absentee ownership and a large number of small parcels in Missoula County, Montana. Landowners indicated a high level of awareness and concern about weeds; more than 80% agreed that weeds are a problem in their valley. Seventy-eight percent of landowners managed weeds, but only 63% were effective at weed management. Absentee owners were far less likely to manage weeds on their properties and less likely to utilize herbicides, as compared with resident landowners. Landowners reported that seeds coming from adjacent properties were the most significant barrier to effective weed control. Many landowners manage weeds to be a good neighbor and believe that cooperation between neighbors is critical to weed management.

Opportunities for better use of collective action theory in research and governance for invasive species management

“…; Yung et al. ). To help overcome existing norms that militate against cooperation, organizations and community leaders can highlight the transboundary nature of invasive species control and the ecological and economic benefits that can arise from cooperation among neighbors (Ravnborg & Westermann ).…”

“…Consistent with CPR theory, authors emphasized that trust was important for facilitating communication (Graham ), developing a sense of community responsibility (Yung et al. ; Marshall et al. ), and social norms (Minato et al.…”

“…; McLeod & Saunders ; Yung et al. ). The challenges associated with promoting collective actions to manage invasive species are a social dilemma that arises because invasive species freely cross property boundaries, creating uncompensated interdependencies and externalities among spatially proximate land managers (Cornes & Sandler ).…”

“…; McLeod & Saunders ; Yung et al. ). Although PG and CPR problems become more difficult with increasing numbers of people involved, the reasons self‐organization becomes harder differ.…”

“…), residents convincing neighbors to or helping them control invasive species on their property (Ravnborg & Westermann ; Herbert ; Yung et al. ; Niemiec et al. ), cooperative scouting for pest outbreaks (Stallman & James ), coordinated pesticide application, release of biological controls, and crop rotation across farms (Ayer ; Stallman & James ).…”