Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
h ese government-led initiatives and decision-making processes require wide-
spread public support to be successful. In this context, greater public participation
has proven to be an eff ective mechanism for building public support. Hoff mann
and O'Connor (2004) identifi ed public acceptance and approval as a key factor for
the successful eradication of two invasive ants: African big-headed ant and tropical
fi re from the Kakadu National Park. Raising awareness activities included: a press
release following the discovery of the African big-headed ant to alert the public
to the problem and the proposed eradication; public notices in Jabiru Township;
notifi cations in the local paper; creation of an information sheet; as well as infor-
mation notices for tourists staying at the Cooinda tourist resort. Also, permission
for access prior to any inspection or treatment was directly sought from key people
within any locality. h ese activities were crucial in generating support for the pro-
ject and for preventing re-infestation. In developing countries, particularly those
founded on tribal cultures, public support is even more important given land-
ownership and access rights (see Box 7.2).
7.2.3.4 Part of the problem; part of the solution
As certain public behaviours are driving the IAS problem it is only logical that
public participation needs to be an integral part of the solution. The public must
be engaged in order to moderate or desist from such behaviours. In some cases, the
public acts in an indirect capacity by creating the demand for IAS introductions,
while in other situations it is members of the public that are actively introducing
the IAS. For example, many invasive plants have been introduced as ornamentals
by botanical gardens, arboreta, and nurseries—driven by public demand for the
more familiar or aesthetically pleasing species.
Many examples exist of the public being directly responsible for the introduc-
tion and release of exotic species that turn invasive. For example, a signifi cant per-
centage of the known 185 exotic fi sh species caught in US open waters are thought
to be the result of intentional releases by hobbyist aquarium owners (Fuller 2007).
Individuals can also inadvertently facilitate the spread of invasive species. For
example, seeds or insects can hitchhike to remote places on camping equipment.
To e ff ect widespread changes in those public behaviours and attitudes that are
directly and indirectly driving the introduction of exotic and potentially invasive
species, public consultation and awareness-raising must form the fundamental
component of the solution.
The type of public participation in IAS management can be considered in terms
of a model of participation continuum—the Participation Model. How best for
the participation to occur depends on the degree of participation being sought
(Fig. 7.5).
