Abstract
How people perceive risks posed by invasive non-native plants (INNP) can influence attitudes and consequently likely influence behavioural decisions. Although some drivers of risk perception for INNP have been identified, research has not determined those for INNP in domestic gardens. This is concerning as domestic gardens are where people most commonly encounter INNP, and where impacts can be particularly acute. Using a survey approach, this study determined the drivers of perceptions of risk of INNP in domestic gardens and which risks most concern people. Japanese knotweed Fallopia japonica, in Cornwall, UK, where it is a problematic INNP in domestic gardens, was used as a case study. Possible drivers of risk were chosen a priori based on variables previously found to be important for environmental risks. Participants perceived Japanese knotweed to be less frequent on domestic property in Cornwall if their occupation involved the housing market, if they had not had Japanese knotweed in their own garden, if they did not know of Japanese knotweed within 5 km of their home, or if they were educated to degree level. Participants who thought that the consequences of Japanese knotweed being present on domestic property could be more severe had occupations that involved the housing market, knew of Japanese knotweed within 5 km of their home, or were older. Although concern about the damage Japanese knotweed could do to the structure of a property was reported as the second highest motivation to control it by the majority of participants, the perception of threat from this risk was rated as relatively low. The results of this study have implications for policy, risk communication, and garden management decisions. For example, there is a need for policy that provides support and resources for people to manage INNP in their local area. To reduce the impact and spread of INNP we highlight the need for clear and accurate risk communication within discourse about this issue. The drivers identified in this study could be used to target awareness campaigns to limit the development of over- or under-inflated risk perceptions.
Highlights
Invasive non-native plants (INNP) are a significant driver, as well as a product of, global environmental change (Simberloff et al 2013; Blackburn et al 2014).INNP often pose major risks to the environment, ecosystem services and human well-being (Pejchar and Mooney 2009; Vilaet al. 2011; Jeschke et al 2014)
The lack of scientific consensus about how to control Japanese knotweed, or if it should always be controlled (Delbart et al 2012), is likely contributing to the large variation in perceptions of risk about this plant in domestic gardens, even amongst those who encounter it in a professional context
As perceptions of risk are important in determining what, if any, action is taken to manage INNP on domestic property, the results of this paper have several important implications
Summary
Invasive non-native plants (INNP) are a significant driver, as well as a product of, global environmental change (Simberloff et al 2013; Blackburn et al 2014).INNP often pose major risks to the environment, ecosystem services and human well-being (Pejchar and Mooney 2009; Vilaet al. 2011; Jeschke et al 2014). Whilst there is debate over the levels of rationality and subjectivity involved (Slovic 1999; Sjoberg 1999), certain drivers have recurrently been found to influence their development (Slimak and Dietz 2006) These include, for example, direct or indirect experience of a risk, proximity to the risk, and certain socio-demographic variables (e.g. age, education and gender; Kasperson et al 1988; Flynn et al 1994; Gustafson 1998; Slovic 1999; Carlton and Jacobson 2013; Wachinger et al 2013)
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