Improving Invasive Animal Institutions: A citizen-focused approach. A citizen-focused review of institutional arrangements for Invasive Animal management

Abstract

This report discusses rules and responsibilities, property rights, administration, funding and management and other 'institutional' issues that affect landholders, volunteers, businesses, community groups or other non-government organisations (NGO's) managing harm from invasive animals. The report reflects the fact that most community action concerns the control of established pests, rather than biosecurity control of newly present pest animals. There are many things about Australia's management of pest animals that could be celebrated: sophisticated bio-security arrangements, the regional NRM system, funding programs at federal, state and local levels, the good work of land managers and volunteers, major scientific efforts, and many aspects of community based management that deserve to be applauded. Because our concern is improvement we must focus on problems. Despite many positive things we still need better ways to control Invasive animals if we are to reduce the harms. This work is part of the Invasive Animals CRC program 'Facilitating Effective Community Action'. Other programs deal with the control of wild dogs, rabbits, feral cats, pest fish and other Invasive animals. Our program has three parts: improving community involvement, using psychology to improve communications, and improving institutional arrangements. We have partnerships across Australia to address human aspects of invasive animals including 'Communities of Practice' for community engagement and communications, and students researching effective community action. We also have established collaborations with leading research teams in 'human dimensions' from three U.S. universities. Whilst the work of the CRC concentrates upon vertebrate pests, there are many institutional issues shared with invasive invertebrates and plants. This report considers other types of invasive species where this is appropriate.