Invasive plant management is a growing concern in socio-ecological systems. They can displace native species, reduce forest health, degrade recreational areas and generate expensive control costs. Invasive plants are particularly damaging in forest ecosystems where they continue to spread via anthropogenic factors like trade, transportation, climate change and limited regulation in many states. Although 36 % of forestlands in the U.S. are owned by family forest owners (FFOs), only few studies have focused on the human dimensions of invasive plant management, and even less that studied FFOs. To address this gap, we had three primary research objectives. First, we wanted to investigate the knowledge, attitudes, perceptions, and behaviors of FFOs (and forestry professionals) towards invasive plants’ prevention and control. Second, we wanted to assess factors that influence FFOs’ perceptions, intentions, and individual actions regarding invasive plant management. Third, we wanted to assess the role of social influence on FFOs’ perceptions towards cooperative management of invasive plants. We used a mixed-methods approach to collect and analyze data. We collected qualitative data by conducting 25 face-to-face, semi-structured interviews with FFOs and forestry professionals. We also collected quantitative data by conducting a mailed survey of 2,600 randomly selected FFOs in Indiana, USA.
Results/Conclusions
We found that 42% of FFOs were moderately familiar with and concerned about invasive plants on their properties. Although 59% of FFOs expressed little to no confidence in their abilities to remove and prevent invasive plants, they also reported invasive plant management activities like inspecting their woodlands, talking to families and other landowners, and removing invasive plants – primarily without much input from natural resource professionals. Furthermore, almost one-third of FFOs indicated that they learned about invasive plants and how to manage them via their social networks and self-directed learning. We also found that FFOs who had invasive plant management experience and those who were subject to social influence from families, friends and other landowners, indicated a higher likelihood to remove invasive plants in the next five years. The only statistically significant demographic and ownership characteristics that predicted FFOs’ self-reported likelihood to remove invasive plants was education level, owning woodlands for recreational purposes, and to pass on to heirs. Furthermore, landowners who perceived a need for collective action, had previous experience managing invasive plants or talking to others about them were all statistically significant predictors of FFOs’ self-reported plan to collectively remove invasive plants in the next five years.