Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Act in New Zealand. As public input is included in the decision-making
process this drives the need for public participation earlier in the manage-
ment life cycle.
Participation in implementation:
4)
this type of participation is concerned
with the involvement of the public in project implementation. As well as a
source of information, the public can act as a signifi cant resource effort for
actual project implementation and monitoring (Box 7.3).
Leading implementation:
5) at the opposite end of the continuum to passive
participation lie fully publicly owned and driven IAS management initiatives.
Increasingly, local groups are forming, whether completely independently or
facilitated by external bodies, to address the impacts of IAS (Box 7.4).
Where public attitude itself lies on the Participation Model is a function of their
knowledge and interest in the issue of IAS. To mainstream the issue of IAS a shift to
higher levels of participation must occur. By doing so, a positive feedback reaction
will occur, i.e. greater understanding and commitment will lead to greater call for
participation and awareness.
Governments are instrumental in the shift to participation through public edu-
cation and awareness campaigns. While such campaigns, themselves, lie to the
passive end of the model in that the purpose is to inform, the actual objective is
to move the public into a more participatory mode. Well-designed public aware-
ness and education campaigns will bring about signifi cant benefi ciary changes in
public behaviour. Sometimes, these involve the cessation of harmful behaviours,
e.g. introducing exotic species, to encouraging knowledge and motivation towards
benefi cial behaviours, e.g. passive public monitoring.
Box 7.3
Case study 3: mobilizing volunteers to control invasive plants in
wetland and riparian areas
Invasive plants are diffi cult to eradicated or control once they have become estab-
lished. In most cases, invasive plants are prolifi c seed producers and any attempt
to eradicate such species will require many years of monitoring and removal of
new seedlings. This cannot be achieved without consistent commitment and
funding.
Some states in the US are using trained volunteer groups as an inexpensive
and high-quality source of labour to control various invasive plants in wetland
and riparian areas. Cited benefi ts of engaging volunteers include, the potential
for:
•
Expanding the control area because of increased man-power
•
Extending limited funding
•
Increasing the number of people who can help with long-term monitoring
•
Increasing the number of people who can help with raising awareness of
impacts of invasive plants on the environment
