Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
In this context, legislative instruments are simply statutory tools to ensure a
desired outcome—in this case the participation of the public in matters of IAS
management. Making such involvement compulsory is a clear indication of the
belief that public participation is a highly eff ective component of IAS manage-
ment. h e remainder of this section will explore the diff erent benefi ts of public
participation in IAS management.
We have discussed the ethical and legislative considerations but now turn to the
primary reason for public participation in IAS management: it is an extremely
effective tool.
7.2.3.1 Locally relevant
Many impacts of IAS are felt directly by communities with close dependencies on
the environment. Public consultation of directly impacted communities will result
in relevant priority setting. See Box 7.1 for an example of where public consult-
ation resulted in a change of project priorities.
7.2.3.2 Maximize the resource effort
Historically, public participation has been largely confi ned to the public supplying
information and opinions in response to the request for submissions to govern-
ment-led initiatives. While playing a relatively passive part in this context, the
information that the public supplies can be a key informational resource to such
initiatives.
Due to its complexity and extent, IAS management is a resource intensive
endeavour calling on signifi cant amounts of fi nancial and human resources
(including expertise, skills, knowledge, and eff ort). h e public contains a broad
and deep resource pool that once suitably motivated can bring considerable eff ort
to bear on a problem. Leveraging this extensive human resource pool to augment
government and non-governmental organization (NGO) eff ort will maximize the
resources available to drive a successful solution.
A suitably informed and motivated public can form an eff ective low cost,
extended, passive monitoring and surveillance network. In New Zealand, the
eff ectiveness of such public participation is illustrated by the identifi cation of all
three incursions to date of the red imported fi re ant (RIFA) having been made by
vigilant members of the public alerting MAF Biosecurity New Zealand (M. Sarty
2008, pers. comm.). Early notifi cation greatly increases the likelihood of eradi-
cation. In the case of RIFA in New Zealand, such public vigilance has led to suc-
cessful eradication of two of the incursions, with the third still in progress. Public
surveillance has also been instrumental in identifying incursions of moths, e.g. fall
webworm, painted apple moth and white-spotted tussock moth, and southern
saltmarsh mosquito (M. Sarty 2008, pers. comm.)
