Effectiveness of best practice management guides for improving invasive species management: a review

Abstract

Best practice management (BPM) guides are a key component of invasive species extension in Australia, and are becoming a more important way of reaching land managers with comprehensive invasive species management strategies. However, little is known about the quantifiable benefits of these guides as a stand-alone extension approach, or in comparison with other approaches. We therefore reviewed the existing literature to determine when this form of extension was appropriate, what determines the success or failure of BPM guides in facilitating best practice invasive species management, how effective they had been in the Australian context, and what methods were available to evaluate BPM guide effectiveness. BPM guides are most appropriately used in support of other forms of extension and enforcement of invasive species regulations; as a cost-effective alternative to more labour-intensive extension techniques; or in bringing together disparate information in a single comprehensive source for land managers and extension practitioners. They appear to be most appropriately distributed at mid- and late-stages of the invasion curve. Limited quantitative evidence of the effectiveness of BPM guides for invasive species in Australia is available, although there is a consensus that these materials are popular among target audiences, despite a range of studies having shown face-to-face extension to be more effective. Unfortunately, many factors make successful evaluation of a BPM guide difficult, such that extension professionals are less likely to consider the possibility of evaluation. However, we argue that extension professionals need to consider evaluation of written BPM guides, where time and funding makes this possible. Ideally this will involve formative evaluation to improve the content and messages of the guide, as well as summative evaluation to determine its effectiveness among the target audience and for the target species. We also suggest a range of economic evaluation possibilities that warrant further exploration and trial.

Selecting methods of agricultural extension to support diverse adoption pathways: a review and case studies

“…Linking strategies need leadership to foster a collective and coordinated response. Examples of linking strategies included linking training to information resources and other technical support from the industry (Dillon et al 2016), linking information provision to separate advisory services (Coleman et al 2017) and linking demonstrations to training and external follow-up (Goodhue et al 2010). Case study 1 involved the QDAF dairy team linking with multiple advisory organisations (across seed supply, agronomy, silage contracting, animal nutrition) to share information about WGS silage, which, in turn, led to farmers being able to access this information and find the advice they needed.…”

“…Generate broad awareness or need for change 3. To coordinate and align information and services so that farmers can engage in a way that suits them Linking training to information resources and other technical support from the industry (Dillon et al 2016) Linking information provision to separate advisory services (Coleman et al 2017) Linking demonstrations to training and external follow-up (Goodhue et al 2010) Case study 1 (multiple advisory organisations sharing information and then providing this and advisory support to farmers Advisory organisations linked farmers to the demonstration sites and other avenues for learning When the reach of a single organisation to a population of farmers is constrained for any reason When the expertise to support change lies outside a single organisation When there is a willingness for organisations to cooperate to provide consistent messages and support to farmers There is leadership in coordinating the extension response There is farmer trust in the organisations in which extension methods are linked Multiple methods are supported by the collective effort of a network of organisations Organisations cross-refer farmers to the resources and organisations that can meet their needs most effectively 1. To leverage the associations that people from different organisations have with different farmers to achieve wider reach to a farming population 2.…”

“…In a study of the efficacy of newsletters and brochures to facilitate adoption of herbicide-resistance strategies, Widderick et al (2006) found that farmers who received a newsletter had greater knowledge of the situations causing herbicide resistance and expressed a greater concern about it. In another study, best management practice guides on management of invasive species were found to be highly valued sources of information, with detailed information on current best practices in one authoritative document of value for time-poor farmers (Coleman et al 2017). However, the decision of whether to invest in a comprehensive best management practice guide was dependent on the urgency and risk from future invasion (Coleman et al 2017).…”

“…In another study, best management practice guides on management of invasive species were found to be highly valued sources of information, with detailed information on current best practices in one authoritative document of value for time-poor farmers (Coleman et al 2017). However, the decision of whether to invest in a comprehensive best management practice guide was dependent on the urgency and risk from future invasion (Coleman et al 2017). Offering tailored information with other methods such as financial incentives and intensive support was found to be effective; however, more specific tailoring to different segments of the population was needed with varying rates of adoption arising from different farm sizes, the future goals of farms such as succession intention and whether farmers were members of interest groups (Rollins et al 2018).…”

Change the Humans First: Principles for Improving the Management of Free-Roaming Cats

“…Each year, substantial investment is made in developing interventions to engage the public about free-roaming cat management issues. But too often no scientifically credible evidence about the effectiveness of these interventions is collected [88,89]. These types of unsatisfactory outcomes are entirely preventable by ensuring that an appropriate evaluation plan is tied to each intervention.…”