Public acceptance of tree health management: Results of a national survey in the UK

Fuller, Lauren; Marzano, Mariella; Peace, Andrew; Quine, Christopher P.; Dandy, Norman

doi:10.1016/j.envsci.2016.02.007

Cited by 41 publications

(55 citation statements)

References 31 publications

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“…Published evidence across a range of pests suggest that the public is generally accepting of the need to control for invasive pests [33,34]. The few studies that have explored attitudes towards pest management have revealed that a 'do nothing' approach is generally considered unacceptable [33,35]. However, our research suggests that in urban areas there are complex trade-offs between values and risk which may lead to management decisions that are not aligned with current government policy on OPM control.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 72%

“…However, evidence suggests that policies and practices lacking societal acceptance and approval will ultimately fail where public support is necessary and this certainly applies to the successful implementation of pest control programes [31,32]. Published evidence across a range of pests suggest that the public is generally accepting of the need to control for invasive pests [33,34]. The few studies that have explored attitudes towards pest management have revealed that a 'do nothing' approach is generally considered unacceptable [33,35].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Pests in the City: Managing Public Health Risks and Social Values in Response to Oak Processionary Moth (Thaumetopoea processionea) in the United Kingdom

Marzano¹,

Ambrose-Oji²,

Moseley³

2020

Forests

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Oak processionary moth (Thaumetopoea processionea) or OPM was accidentally introduced into London on imported oak trees and now poses a threat to the future of oak in the urban landscape. Early attempts at eradication of the moth failed and significant resources have since been spent by government on monitoring and controlling OPM (through the use of insecticides or bio-pesticides) as it spreads into new areas. OPM is regulated in the UK to minimize risk of new introductions and reduce spread. Surveying for OPM and issuing of statutory notices for control is based on a geographical system of core, control and protected zones. While OPM will defoliate the trees leaving them vulnerable to other pests and diseases and stress factors, the caterpillars can also harm people and animals via tiny urticating hairs with the potential for dermatological or respiratory impacts. However, the biggest threat to the iconic British oak may be that the perceived risks associated with OPM, and costs of management may lead land managers to fell their oak trees, and not plant oak in the future. There is a need to better understand awareness, risk perceptions and decision-making around OPM management. We use a conceptual framework to explore decision-making and the trade-offs between the social, economic and ecological values associated with oak trees, and assessment of risk related to both the moth and control options. Twenty nine interviews were conducted in two London boroughs and across Greater London and in some surrounding counties covering a range of land types (e.g., parks, school grounds, amenity areas and private gardens) with infested or non-infested oak. We found a lack of evidence of human health impacts from OPM although land managers were concerned about public duty of care and potential reputational damage if they do not manage OPM. To address the challenges of dealing with OPM, land managers were taking a risk-based approach and managing OPM where it posed the highest potential risk to people. Respondents expressed strong emotional attachments to oak but it also has high biodiversity value which can lead to difficult decisions about management options. A risk-based approach moves beyond a 'one-size-fits-all' control method and focuses available resources where they are most needed and socially acceptable. An approach that allows for multiple values and perspectives on risk may provide a more sustainable long-term option for OPM management to ensure the future of oak in the city.importance of urban parks and greenspaces providing urban populations with economic, social and health and wellbeing benefits cannot therefore be underestimated. However, invasive tree pests and diseases are increasingly impacting natural resources and the benefits and services they provide. Research on the social dimensions of tree health has provided a range of insights into the risk perceptions, decision-making and behaviors of owners and managers of woodlands and forests [7][8][9]. Research suggests that biosecurity actions depend on: the r...

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 72%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pests in the City: Managing Public Health Risks and Social Values in Response to Oak Processionary Moth (Thaumetopoea processionea) in the United Kingdom

Marzano¹,

Ambrose-Oji²,

Moseley³

2020

Forests

Self Cite

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“…Fuller et al 2016;Marzano et al 2016;McFarlane et al 2006), our findings indicate generally low levels of awareness and knowledge of tree pests and diseases, but higher levels of stated concern. This may reflect a tendency for people to be more concerned about unfamiliar risks or those they know little about, risks that may have effects that are delayed in time and where there is scientific uncertainty (Renn 2008;Slovic et al 1980;Williamson and Weyman 2005).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 76%

“…Two recent (2013 and 2014) national surveys have been conducted to assess UK public awareness and concern about invasive tree pests and diseases, as well as their willingness to adopt biosecure behaviours 1 and accept management strategies (Bayliss and Potter 2013;Fuller et al 2016). Both surveys found general levels of awareness of tree pests and diseases were low, but with high levels of concern about the impacts on tree and woodland health, along with a willingness to adopt biosecure behaviours and support for management actions against tree pests and diseases.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Awareness, concern and willingness to adopt biosecure behaviours: public perceptions of invasive tree pests and pathogens in the UK

et al. 2017

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The growing incidence of invasive tree pest and disease outbreaks is recognised as an increasing threat to ecosystem services and human wellbeing. Linked to global trade, human movement and climate change, a number of outbreaks have attracted high public and media attention. However, there is surprisingly little evidence characterising the nature of public attentiveness to these events, nor how publics might respond to evolving outbreaks and the management actions taken. This paper presents findings from an online questionnaire involving 1334 respondents nationally-representative of the British public to assess awareness, concern and willingness to adopt biosecure behaviours. Despite revealing low levels of awareness and knowledge, the results indicate that the British public is concerned about the health of trees, forests and woodlands and is moderately willing to adopt biosecure behaviours. A key finding is that membership of environmental organisations and strong place identity are likely to engender higher awareness and levels of concern about tree pests and diseases. Further, those who visit woodlands regularly are likely to be more aware than non-visitors, and gardeners are more likely to be concerned than non-gardeners. Women, older respondents, those with strong place identity and dependence, members of environmental organisations, woodland visitors and gardeners were most likely to express a willingness to adopt biosecure behaviours. A comparison with findings from a survey conducted by the authors 3 years previously shows a decline over time in awareness, concern and willingness.

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“…) find links between knowledge about the invasive species and willingness to pay to control its spread. Providing a specific context for our paper, Fuller et al (2016) assess the British public's knowledge about tree diseases. They find that, although the majority of respondents identified themselves as concerned about the threat of tree diseases, their level of general knowledge about diseases was very low.…”

Section: Previous Workmentioning

confidence: 99%

Public Preferences and Willingness to Pay for Forest Disease Control in the UK

Sheremet¹,

Healey²,

Quine³

et al. 2017

J Agricultural Economics

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Invasive pests and diseases in trees impose a range of costs on society related to reductions in timber values, impacts on recreational opportunities and effects on forest biodiversity. These costs need to be considered when assessing control options and developing public policy. We investigate the preferences and willingness to pay of the UK general public for a range of forest disease control measures using a choice experiment with a sample of 605 people. Respondents were relatively well informed about general tree disease‐related issues, such as causes and general measures to minimise the risk of disease spread. They were less knowledgeable about specific tree diseases, with Dutch elm disease and chalara ash dieback being the most well known. We find that disease control programmes in publicly‐owned forests and forests owned by charitable trusts are more likely to be supported by the public than equivalent control programmes in privately‐owned and/or commercial forests. The nature of scientific uncertainty about diseases does not affect peoples’ preferences for disease control measures significantly. Higher respondent income, greater ex‐ante knowledge about tree diseases, and more frequent visits to forests are correlated with greater willingness to support publicly‐funded tree disease control programmes in forests. Better knowledge about tree diseases also improves the clarity of respondents’ choices. We find a negative sentiment against some disease control measures, such as clear felling of a forest, and chemical or biocide spraying. We conclude that there is significant public support for part‐financing forest disease control policies in the UK, but that this is conditional on forest ownership and the type of control measures used.

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Public acceptance of tree health management: Results of a national survey in the UK

Cited by 41 publications

References 31 publications

Pests in the City: Managing Public Health Risks and Social Values in Response to Oak Processionary Moth (Thaumetopoea processionea) in the United Kingdom

Pests in the City: Managing Public Health Risks and Social Values in Response to Oak Processionary Moth (Thaumetopoea processionea) in the United Kingdom

Awareness, concern and willingness to adopt biosecure behaviours: public perceptions of invasive tree pests and pathogens in the UK

Public Preferences and Willingness to Pay for Forest Disease Control in the UK

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