Community-Based Control of Invasive Species

Invasive species are among the greatest challenges to environmental sustainability and agricultural productivity in the world. One of the most promising approaches to managing invasive species is voluntary citizen stewardship. However, in order for control measures to be effective, private citizens often need to make sustained and sometimes burdensome commitments. Community-Based Control of Invasive Species is based on five years of research by leading scholars in natural resource and human behavioural sciences, which involved government and citizen groups in Australia and the United States. It examines questions including, 'how can citizens be engaged in voluntarily managing invasive species?', 'what communication strategies will ensure good motivation and coordination?' and 'how can governing bodies support citizens in their efforts?'. With chapters on institutional frameworks, changing governance, systems thinking, organisational learning, engagement, communication and behavioural change, this book will be a valuable reference for researchers and practitioners involved in natural resources management.

Table of Contents:
Chapter 1: A focus on citizen-led action Chapter 2: The socio-ecological systems approach Chapter 3: Achieving organisational learning in natural resource management Chapter 4: Framing community engagement Chapter 5: Community engagement theory for a new natural resource management paradigm Chapter 6: Strategy and practice for community engagement Chapter 7: Dealing with complexity and change through collective reflection Chapter 8: Managing outcome-focused, engaged ‘human’ research Chapter 9: Using human behaviour change strategy to improve the management of invasive species Chapter 10: Using audience segmentation and targeted social marketing to improve landholder management of invasive animals Chapter 11: Understanding and managing mass media effects on public perceptions of science issues such as invasive species management

About the Author :
- Paul Martin is a Professor of Law and the Director of the Australian Centre for Agriculture and Law at the University of New England, Australia. He was the leader of the Invasive Animals CRC program 4E: Facilitating Effective Community Action on Invasive Species. - Theodore (Ted) Alter is Professor of Agricultural, Environmental and Regional Economics and Co- Director of the Center for Economic and Community Development at Pennsylvania State University. He was the research team leader of the Invasive Animals CRC program 4E1: Facilitating Effective Community Action. - Don Hine is a Professor of Psychology at the University of New England, Australia. His work focuses on understanding human dimensions of environmental problems. He was the research team leader of the Invasive Animals CRC program 4E2: Triggers for Effective Action. - Tanya Howard is a Lecturer in Natural Resource Policy and Community Engagement at the University of New England, Australia. She was Post-doctoral Research Fellow for the Invasive Animals CRC program 4E1: Facilitating Effective Community Action.