Public Awareness and Perceptions of Invasive Alien Species in Small Towns

Abstract

Invasive alien species (IAS) are a growing threat globally and cause a variety of ecological, economic, and social impacts. People can introduce IAS and facilitate their spread, and can also implement, support, or oppose their management. Understanding local knowledge, awareness, and perceptions are therefore crucial if management and policy are to be effective. We administered questionnaires to members of the public in eight small towns along the Berg River Catchment in the biodiverse fynbos biome of South Africa. We aimed to assess: (1) awareness of IAS by the general public, (2) local perceptions of the impacts associated with IAS, (3) whether awareness of IAS is correlated with demographic covariates and IAS density, and (4) people’s willingness to detect, report, and support IAS management. Overall, 262 respondents participated in the survey. Most respondents (65%) did not know what IAS are, and 10% were unsure. Many respondents also perceived IAS as beneficial. Using a logistic regression, we found that IAS density, educational level, and gender influenced people’s knowledge and perceptions about IAS in the region. There were a small number (4%) of respondents currently detecting and reporting IAS, but many respondents were interested to learn more. We concluded that people living in small towns in the Western Cape of South Africa remain largely unaware of IAS and their impacts. It is crucial to increase awareness-raising initiatives, and build support and engagement in management of IAS in small towns.

Identifying opportunities for invasive species management: an empirical study of stakeholder perceptions and interest in invasive species

“…In our study, all stakeholder groups demonstrated a high level of interest in the topic of invasive species. This clearly distinguishes the stakeholder groups from the general population, where a previous study found that a good third were not interested in invasive species at all (Jubase et al 2021). Only administrative employees in the regulatory authority showed slightly less interest, but this can be explained by the regulatory authority's focus.…”

“…This result is also consistent with a previous study, which also found the damage done by invasive species is often underestimated (Waliczek et al 2017). One possible explanation for this could be that invasive species are not only associated with economic or environmental problems, but also perceived positively in the population, especially if they are attractive or bring value in the form of ecosystem services (Dickie et al 2014;Jubase et al 2021). In addition, the economic damage caused by invasive species is not always directly visible.…”

“…Various studies have shown that the public has little knowledge about invasive species (Fraser 2001;Radek;Remmele and Lindemann-Matthies 2020). People are often unaware of invasive species and their impacts or even see them as beneficial (Jubase et al 2021). Compared to other factors threatening biodiversity, invasive species tend to be underestimated (Kleespies and Dierkes 2020).…”

A review of significance of allelopathy in anticipating negative climate change effects

“…To address the challenge of disrupted nutrient cycling, management strategies should aim to control invasive plant species and restore native plant communities (Cao et al, 2011;Kostina-Bednarz et al, 2023). South Africa for instance is a country which took early measures to protect its native ecosystems (Jubase et al, 2021). Managed removal of invasive species can help alleviate the allelopathic pressure on native plants and promote the recovery of nutrient cycling processes (Alldred et al, 2016).…”