Abstract
Early detection of new tree pests and diseases is a vital element of national strategies to prevent their establishment and spread into a country or region, based on the rationale that it increases the chances of successful eradication. Given the limited capacity and financial resources of most national plant protection authorities, the use of public participants has recently been explored in a range of citizen science projects for its ability to supplement official surveillance. However, little is known about the motivations, expectations and experiences of members of the public involved in such activities and even less about the views of professionals and officials. In this study, evidence was obtained from structured interviews with professionals and volunteers engaged in five projects related to tree health surveillance. Some differences were noted between the two groups with a greater focus on personal aspects by members of the public and on strategic and institutional aspects by professionals. A striking feature was the agreement of the two groups that the projects had met or exceeded their expectations, and provided the proof of concept that tree health surveillance capacity can be increased by engaging and training citizens. Many participants shared concerns about the importance of securing both project longevity and volunteer participation over the long term. The paper discusses ways in which the motivations of tree health surveillance participants can be sustained over long periods with particular attention to recognition and reward.
Highlights
Worldwide, trees and forests are increasingly under threat from invasive non-native pests and diseases (FAO 2020)
Interview responses are presented below according to the main interview questions of (a) Motivations and expectations; (b) Benefits and positive experiences; (c) Challenges and key improvements to increase effectiveness of citizen science (CS) approach; and (d) Future use of CS, its utility to tree health policy
Professionals and volunteers expressed very similar motivations and expectations of their participation in CS projects (Table 2). Individuals in both groups expressed their desire to play their part in a national effort to protect the environment, that data from their observations would be used to protect trees from new pest and disease threats: My continued motivation is the fact that early detection and early management will hopefully allow some sort of protection of some of our important trees that provide great social and economic benefits and assets. (Volunteer)
Summary
Trees and forests are increasingly under threat from invasive non-native pests and diseases (FAO 2020). Major UK surveillance programmes have been undertaken by government agencies such as the Forestry Commission (FC) and Defra’s Plant Health and Seeds Inspectorate. These involve a limited set of professionals (Slawson and Moffat 2020), primarily plant health specialists such as public sector inspectors and foresters, risk analysts, and regulatory scientists (Potter et al 2011). People engaged professionally with trees, and the general public, offer a potential means to enhance the limited official surveillance capacity This thinking is exemplified in several government strategy documents (Defra and Forestry Commission 2011; Defra 2014). Both reports led to citizen science (CS) being explored as a solution for the detection and surveillance of alien tree pests and diseases by engaging the public to support government agency staff
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