Awareness, concern and willingness to adopt biosecure behaviours: public perceptions of invasive tree pests and pathogens in the UK

Clive Potter,Julie Barnett,John Mumford,Julie Urquhart,John Fellenor,Helen Bayliss,Christopher P Quine

doi:10.1007/s10530-017-1467-4

Clive Potter, Julie Barnett + Show 5 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-017-1467-4

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Abstract

The growing incidence of invasive tree pest and disease outbreaks is recognised as an increasing threat to ecosystem services and human wellbeing. Linked to global trade, human movement and climate change, a number of outbreaks have attracted high public and media attention. However, there is surprisingly little evidence characterising the nature of public attentiveness to these events, nor how publics might respond to evolving outbreaks and the management actions taken. This paper presents findings from an online questionnaire involving 1334 respondents nationally-representative of the British public to assess awareness, concern and willingness to adopt biosecure behaviours. Despite revealing low levels of awareness and knowledge, the results indicate that the British public is concerned about the health of trees, forests and woodlands and is moderately willing to adopt biosecure behaviours. A key finding is that membership of environmental organisations and strong place identity are likely to engender higher awareness and levels of concern about tree pests and diseases. Further, those who visit woodlands regularly are likely to be more aware than non-visitors, and gardeners are more likely to be concerned than non-gardeners. Women, older respondents, those with strong place identity and dependence, members of environmental organisations, woodland visitors and gardeners were most likely to express a willingness to adopt biosecure behaviours. A comparison with findings from a survey conducted by the authors 3 years previously shows a decline over time in awareness, concern and willingness.

Highlights

Introduction and backgroundThe growing incidence of new invasive tree pest and disease introductions into the UK and elsewhere has been linked to globalization, increased trade and transportation of live plants and wood products, human movement and climate change (Liebhold et al 2012; Potter and Urquhart 2017)
Currently there is little empirical evidence for policy makers to refer to in order to characterise the nature of public attentiveness to tree pest and disease outbreaks, nor how publics might respond to evolving outbreaks and management actions (Flint 2007)
This is important when, for instance, anecdotal evidence around the Ash dieback outbreak in the UK suggests that policymakers and some stakeholders appeared to assume that there were high levels of public concern, perhaps on the basis of media coverage, when they made their case for government intervention in 2012

Summary

Introduction

Introduction and backgroundThe growing incidence of new invasive tree pest and disease introductions into the UK and elsewhere has been linked to globalization, increased trade and transportation of live plants and wood products, human movement and climate change (Liebhold et al 2012; Potter and Urquhart 2017). Currently there is little empirical evidence for policy makers to refer to in order to characterise the nature of public attentiveness to tree pest and disease outbreaks, nor how publics might respond to evolving outbreaks and management actions (Flint 2007) This is important when, for instance, anecdotal evidence around the Ash dieback outbreak in the UK suggests that policymakers and some stakeholders appeared to assume that there were high levels of public concern, perhaps on the basis of media coverage, when they made their case for government intervention in 2012

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