Invasive Animals CRC

10.U.11 Human dimensions of invasive animal management

Because wildlife management is a human construct, it is affected by public opinion. A direct result of this is the tendency for wildlife management issues to be emotive in nature and become highly politicised. Human dimensions research, therefore, is important because it facilitates a more comprehensive understanding of the social aspects of the environment in which wildlife management, eg. the control of invasive animals, must operate.

Problematically, few Australian studies have sought to address public or stakeholder values or attitudes relating to wildlife management, let alone specifically address issues of invasive animals. Further, McLeod (2004) demonstrated that a paucity of information exists regarding invasive animals' social impacts. As a consequence, it is unlikely that current policy and planning processes are adequately addressing social issues.

This project aims to provide information on social impacts of invasive animals, and public attitudes towards invasive animals and their control. This will allow improved understanding the context for the IA CRC's current and future activities that will conceivably lead to:

increased co-operation with and support from the public
reduced vulnerability to the political pressure of lobby groups
an improved ability to predict/understand the acceptability of novel control measures, and
increased evidence/support for ongoing research and control efforts.

Having recognised that many of the professionals involved with invasive species research and management are ill-equipped to identify and deal with the social issues that have relevance to their roles, the Invasive Animals CRC convened the workshop on Social Drivers of Invasive Animal Control. Through this event, managers and scientists with traditional, biophysical training were given the chance to interact with social researchers from a variety of natural resource management fields.

Social research projects are being developed at several demonstration sites within the Uptake Program (Kangaroo Island, Logan-Albert, Lower Lachlan, ACT and the NSW - QLD Strategic Wild Dog Management site). These projects aim to actively seek information from the Australian public using a variety of methods, such as interviews, focus groups and questionnaire-based research key stakeholders.

Kangaroo Island: stakeholder meetings were held in October 2006 and indicated general satisfaction with the notion of feral pig and goat control; that rural landholders want helpand dont see invasive as their responsibility alone; there is concern about non-target issues with poisons; benefits of invasive spp. were identified by tour guides, sporting hunters & recreational eaters.

ACT: involves public surveysabout peri-urban invasive species to inform local managers to improve extension efforts and increase participation in community pro-environmental activities

Wild-dog Management:Penelope Marshall (PhD student sociology) to assess the social impacts of wild dogs and their management. Stakeholder meetings and attitudinal surveys to be conducted in conjunction with NSW Dept of Environment and Conservation. Surveys looking at issues of dingoes and wild dog-dingo hybrids.

Albert-Logan River:Investigating the social drivers of participation in carp control.Based around implementation of surveys at carp control competitions.

Lower Lachlan: Attitudinal survey(s).