Module 10 Raising Awareness and Support Learning Outcomes

Module 10 Raising Awareness and Support

Learning Outcomes • Understand why raising awareness is critical in the fight against invasive alien species (IAS) • Know the key elements of awareness raising

Who is a stakeholder? • A stakeholder is any person or organization who contributes to, or is affected, positively or negatively, by invasive species.

Raising awareness • Awareness-raising and education are a critical component in the fight against IAS • Awareness-raising should cover issues of causes, impacts of IAS as well as solutions. • All sections of society should be included

Objectives of raising awareness • Greater understanding of issues • “Ownership” of the problem, and involvement in the solutions • Greater acceptability of measures to address IAS • Increased political support / greater resources

Why raise awareness? • Human related activities are a major facilitator or pathway for alien species spread. Asian ladybird beetle (Harmonia axyridis) Introduced as a biocontrol agent, but proved invasive in Belgium and North America Hedera helix, a garden escapee that is now a major invader

Why raise awareness? • Invasive alien species have differential impacts on different groups of people. Sudden Oak Death – symptoms Photo by Joseph O'Brien, USDA Forest Service Salvinia clogging a lake. Photo by Scott Bauer (USDA, Agricultural Research Service)

Why raise awareness? • People at all levels form part of the solution. Children taking part in a weedbuster programme, New Zealand Participation in an Alligator weed awareness programme, Australia

Planning an awareness raising activity Key elements • Decide what to raise awareness about. • Define the target audience • Use appropriate communication

Some objectives are: • Disseminate information on IAS • Increase awareness of a particular species and its impacts • Encourage stakeholders to take a specific action • To bring about a change in attitude • Build support for IAS management • Motivate people to participate in programmes and activities

• Define the target audience • They can be broadly classified into – general public – focused stakeholders – industry – policy makers

Use appropriate tools and techniques • Using the right tool or a combination of tools will result in a better outcome • Consistent messages • Use of eye catching logos • Use flagship species The school at Natividad Island, Mexico adopted the black-vented shearwater and the abalone as their school mascots and constructed a new school sign.

Use appropriate tools and techniques • Messages that not only educate but also motivate to change actions Educational and eyecatching

Summary • Raising awareness and educating stakeholders is a central instrument in the fight against (IAS) • Awareness-raising efforts should be targeted at all levels of society • Humans are at the heart of the problem of IAS and, paradoxically, also at the heart of the solution