Framing community engagement

Abstract

Invasive species take hold in landscapes that are segmented by land tenure boundaries, fragmented governance regimes and short-term funding and planning cycles. As the previous chapters explained, these institutional arrangements have significant implications for community action, shaping citizen roles and obligations through the provision of resources and coordination services. Current management and control approaches of invasive species are predominantly informed by technical expertise in species ecology; however, for control to be effective, it is necessary to encourage sustained and coordinated community action. As outlined in Chapter 1, community engagement to achieve coordinated community action has been identified as a central strategy for remedying invasive species impact. Effective invasive species management and control rests at the nexus of technical and community expertise and experience.