Good Nature, Bad Nature
Date: 19th December 2022
The University of Otago is embarking on a really interesting project exploring the current and future management of invasive species, and people’s values associated with contentious species. Their study will help understand how attitudes to invasive species are formed, and consequently how to generate support for their current and future management.
The impact of invasive species in New Zealand
New Zealand faces a huge ecological problem from invasive plants and animals (e.g. possums, stoats, deer, wilding pines) spreading across the country impacting native species and landscapes – a problem expected to grow with climate change. Controlling invasive species, at a cost of NZ$1.4 billion per year, depends upon ongoing public awareness and support. However this is in question due to disagreement over what is ‘good’ or ‘bad’ nature.
Some invasive species may be important for local communities e.g. for food, firewood, recreation or tourism, leading those communities to reject control programmes. Also, New Zealand is becoming more culturally diverse, but we know little about how Māori, Pasifika or recent migrants value invasive species, nor the views held by young New Zealanders.
Four case studies exploring tolerance for, and control of, invasive species
This research will investigate the level of tolerance for invasive species and the level of support for their control, within our communities. There are four case-studies – each explore people’s values associated with a contentious invasive species:
- Wild pigs in Northland
- Wilding conifers in the Southern Lakes district
- Himalayan tahr in the Southern Alps
- Koi carp and rudd in the Waikato region.
For the wilding conifer work the team are especially interested in qualitative research, the group observations and face-to-face interviews, which aid understanding people’s underlying values and attitudes towards invasive plants.
Their interviews will involve talking to a range of people to get all points of view. This includes local wilding groups but also people who oppose control measures. They will also interview people who work in local/regional councils on wilding pine control as well (District/Regional councils of Queenstown-Lakes, Central Otago, Waitaki, and Mackenzie).
Please support this great piece of work. It’s very worthwhile.
Contact The team – Email invasives@otago.ac.nz and check out the web link with a good video https://www.otago.ac.nz/tourism/research/projects/bad-nature.html
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