Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication, Iowa State University, 214 Hamilton Hall, 613 Wallace Road, Ames, IA 50011, United States.
Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication, Iowa State University, 214 Hamilton Hall, 613 Wallace Road, Ames, IA 50011, United States.
J Environ Manage. 2019 Jan 1;229:133-144. doi: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2018.06.047. Epub 2018 Jun 25.
Public attitudes toward invasive alien species management and trust in managers' ability to effectively manage non-native species can determine public support for conservation action. The island of Guam has experienced widespread species loss and ecosystem transformation due to invasive species, most notably, the brown treesnake (Boiga irregularis). Despite Guam's long history with invasives and extensive efforts to eradicate them, we know little about the sociological context of invasive species and drivers of public support or opposition on the island. Using focused group discussions, we explore public attitudes toward invasive species management measures. Respondents were familiar with the common invasive species on Guam and recognized that they were not native. They expressed support for management activities, interest in more effective and frequent management initiatives, and desire to participate directly in conservation actions. Participants also expressed frustration with government institutions and lack of confidence in managers' ability to control invasive species. Perceptions of managers' trustworthiness, communication with managers, and positive personal experiences with managers were related to positive attitudes about management and support for existing initiatives, indicating the important role of trust and engagement for invasive species management.
公众对入侵外来物种管理的态度以及对管理者有效管理非本地物种的能力的信任，可以决定公众对保护行动的支持程度。由于入侵物种的影响，关岛经历了广泛的物种丧失和生态系统转变，其中最显著的是棕树蛇（Boiga irregularis）。尽管关岛有着长期的入侵物种历史和广泛的根除努力，但我们对该岛入侵物种的社会背景和公众支持或反对的驱动因素知之甚少。我们通过专题小组讨论，探讨了公众对入侵物种管理措施的态度。受访者熟悉关岛常见的入侵物种，并且认识到它们并非本地物种。他们表示支持管理活动，对更有效和更频繁的管理举措感兴趣，并希望直接参与保护行动。参与者还对政府机构表示不满，对管理者控制入侵物种的能力缺乏信心。对管理者的信任度、与管理者的沟通以及与管理者的积极个人经历与对管理的积极态度和对现有举措的支持有关，这表明信任和参与对于入侵物种管理至关重要。
