A framework for engaging stakeholders on the management of alien species

Ana Novoa; Ross Shackleton; Susan Canavan; Cathleen Cybèle; Sarah J Davies; Katharina Dehnen-Schmutz; Jana Fried; Mirijam Gaertner; Sjirk Geerts; Charles L Griffiths; Haylee Kaplan; Sabrina Kumschick; David C Le Maitre; G John Measey; Ana L Nunes; David M Richardson; Tamara B Robinson; Julia Touza; John R U Wilson

doi:10.1016/j.jenvman.2017.09.059

A framework for engaging stakeholders on the management of alien species

J Environ Manage. 2018 Jan 1:205:286-297. doi: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2017.09.059. Epub 2017 Oct 9.

Authors

Ana Novoa¹, Ross Shackleton², Susan Canavan³, Cathleen Cybèle⁴, Sarah J Davies², Katharina Dehnen-Schmutz⁵, Jana Fried⁵, Mirijam Gaertner⁶, Sjirk Geerts⁷, Charles L Griffiths⁸, Haylee Kaplan⁹, Sabrina Kumschick³, David C Le Maitre¹⁰, G John Measey², Ana L Nunes¹¹, David M Richardson², Tamara B Robinson², Julia Touza¹², John R U Wilson³

Affiliations

¹ Centre for Invasion Biology, Department of Botany and Zoology, Stellenbosch University, Matieland, South Africa; South African National Biodiversity Institute, Kirstenbosch Research Centre, Claremont, South Africa; Institute of Botany, Department of Invasion Ecology, The Czech Academy of Sciences, CZ-252 43, Průhonice, Czech Republic. Electronic address: novoa.perez.ana@gmail.com.
² Centre for Invasion Biology, Department of Botany and Zoology, Stellenbosch University, Matieland, South Africa.
³ Centre for Invasion Biology, Department of Botany and Zoology, Stellenbosch University, Matieland, South Africa; South African National Biodiversity Institute, Kirstenbosch Research Centre, Claremont, South Africa.
⁴ CIRAD, UMR PVBMT, Saint-Pierre, La Réunion, France; Université de la Réunion, UMR PVBMT, F-97410, Saint-Pierre, La Réunion, France.
⁵ Centre for Agroecology, Water and Resilience, Coventry University, Ryton Gardens, Wolston Lane, Coventry, CV8 3LG, UK.
⁶ Centre for Invasion Biology, Department of Botany and Zoology, Stellenbosch University, Matieland, South Africa; Nürtingen-Geislingen University of Applied Sciences (HFWU), Nürtingen, Germany.
⁷ Department Conservation and Marine Science, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, P.O. Box 652, Cape Town, 8000, South Africa.
⁸ Marine Research (MA-RE) Institute, University of Cape Town, Private Bag X3, Rondebosch, 7701, South Africa; Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cape Town, Private Bag X3, Rondebosch, 7701, South Africa.
⁹ South African National Biodiversity Institute, Kirstenbosch Research Centre, Claremont, South Africa.
¹⁰ Council for Industrial and Scientific Research, P.O. Box 320, Stellenbosch, 7599, South Africa.
¹¹ Centre for Invasion Biology, Department of Botany and Zoology, Stellenbosch University, Matieland, South Africa; South African National Biodiversity Institute, Kirstenbosch Research Centre, Claremont, South Africa; South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity, Grahamstown, South Africa.
¹² Environment Department, Wentworth Way, University of York, Heslington, York, YO10 5NG, UK.

PMID: 29024897
DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2017.09.059

Abstract

Alien species can have major ecological and socioeconomic impacts in their novel ranges and so effective management actions are needed. However, management can be contentious and create conflicts, especially when stakeholders who benefit from alien species are different from those who incur costs. Such conflicts of interests mean that management strategies can often not be implemented. There is, therefore, increasing interest in engaging stakeholders affected by alien species or by their management. Through a facilitated workshop and consultation process including academics and managers working on a variety of organisms and in different areas (urban and rural) and ecosystems (terrestrial and aquatic), we developed a framework for engaging stakeholders in the management of alien species. The proposed framework for stakeholder engagement consists of 12 steps: (1) identify stakeholders; (2) select key stakeholders for engagement; (3) explore key stakeholders' perceptions and develop initial aims for management; (4) engage key stakeholders in the development of a draft management strategy; (5) re-explore key stakeholders' perceptions and revise the aims of the strategy; (6) co-design general aims, management objectives and time frames with key stakeholders; (7) co-design a management strategy; (8) facilitate stakeholders' ownership of the strategy and adapt as required; and (9) implement the strategy and monitor management actions to evaluate the need for additional or future actions. In case additional management is needed after these actions take place, some extra steps should be taken: (10) identify any new stakeholders, benefits, and costs; (11) monitor engagement; and (12) revise management strategy. Overall, we believe that our framework provides an effective approach to minimize the impact of conflicts created by alien species management.

Keywords: Biological invasions; Conflicts of interests; Environmental management; Invasive species management; Perceptions; Stakeholder ownership.

MeSH terms

Ecology*
Ecosystem*
Introduced Species*