Adriana Ford-Thompson

Project: Human dimensions of invasive species management: deer in Australia

The management of invasive species is usually far from straightforward, not only ecologically, but also due to the high reliance on stakeholder participation, cooperation and support, in what can be a contentious issue. Understanding the processes of stakeholder participation and the attitudes of stakeholders toward management can be critical for successful invasive species management. The aim of this research is therefore to examine these human dimensions in order to learn from and inform management practices, with a specific focus on Rusa deer (Cervus timorensis) in the Royal National Park, New South Wales.

Deer play multiple roles in society, being considered both an environmental pest (and listed as a ‘Key Threatening Process’ in NSW) and an iconic game species for recreational hunting, whilst at the same time often considered an attractive and charismatic species. The Royal National Park provides an interesting case study due to its historical significance and urban proximity; just 32 km south of Sydney, it is the second oldest national park in the word. Therefore, whilst it is not a typical national park, it is important both culturally and politically.

The research takes an interdisciplinary approach using both qualitative and quantitative techniques from the social sciences and environmental sciences fields. The first part of the study aims to identify the key factors of participatory invasive species management programmes that influence both social and ecological outcomes. This is achieved through semi-structured interviews with invasive species programme managers across Australia, which are analysed to determine relationships between processes and outcomes.

The second part of the study aims to identify the relative importance of different factors relating to deer management in the Royal National Park from the perspective of the local community.  This is achieved using focus groups with local residents (based on hierarchical decision tree analysis and group discussions) and a postal survey targeted at those living on the outskirts of the Royal NP.

The final part of the study aims to examine socio-political issues relating to deer management in NSW (again with a focus on the Royal NP but considering wider issues relating to deer within the state), using interviews with key stakeholders, including those working or involved in hunting, biodiversity conservation, animal welfare and animal rights. The research will contribute to our knowledge of the way that stakeholders are involved in, and impact on, wildlife management.

The research is funded by IACRC and ESRC (UK).

Please see my university website for further information and contact details: http://www.york.ac.uk/environment/our-staff/adriana-ford-thompson/

Background:

BA(Hons) (MA) Natural Sciences (Zoology) (2000-2003), University of Cambridge

MSc  Environmental Technology (Ecological Management) (2005), Imperial College of Science and Technology, University of London

From 2006-2007 Adriana worked as the Research and Communications Officer for the Mpingo Conservation & Development Initiative, a sustainable forestry NGO in Tanzania. In 2003 she worked for the Regional Environmental Centre for Central and Eastern Europe in a conservation internship, posted at the Shkodra (Nthn Albania) office.  The work involved activities to encourage trans-boundary relations. Prior to that Adriana volunteered on conservation expeditions to the Indonesian rainforest (Sulawesi) and the Cayos Cochinos islands off Honduras.

Publications:

White, P.C.L., Ford-Thompson, A.E.S., Snell, C.J. and Harris, S. 2010. Economic, environmental and social dimensions of alien vertebrate species in Britain. Pages 129-173 in David Pimentel, editor. Biological Invasions: Economic and Environmental Costs of Alien Plants, Animal and Microbe Species, 2nd edition. In press.

White, P.C.L., Ford, A.E.S., Clout, M.N., Engeman, R., Roy, S. & Saunders, G. 2008. Alien invasive vertebrates in ecosystems: pattern, process and the social dimension. Wildlife Research 35, 171–179.

Ford, A.E.S. & Ball, S. 2007. Village forest set aside for sustainable harvesting, Oryx, 41 (2):2

Ford, A.E.S. 2005. An Evaluation of Wildlife Monitoring and Anti-Poaching Activities (Tanzania). Unpublished MSc thesis, Imperial College London (available on the web)