Social connectedness helps regional weed control

The Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation recently published research on impediments to the adoption of weed control. It appears to make a lot of sense, and while specific to serrated tussock, is probably relevant to most weeds. I have summarised the research below.

Weed infestations often derive from collective inaction. Any solution will therefore need to involve collective action, where individuals can trust that a critical mass of their neighbours will be adopting weed control just as they are. Community-based approaches may help to foster this trust by strengthening social norms and informal monitoring and sanctioning.

The research identified barriers to weed control:

·         Poor control on neighbouring properties, resulting in continual reinfestation for those who attempt to manage the weed.

·         Lack of time, money and labour, and off-property commitments.

·         Information not necessarily reaching all end users.

·         High ‘turnover’ of property owners (and absentee landholders).

·         Turnover of extension and government agency staff, resulting in loss of local knowledge and positive relationships.

·         A sense of apathy and futility regarding control.

·         Inability to correctly identify weeds.

·         Aversion to herbicide use.

·         Inadequate enforcement.

Motivation to adopt effective management practices include:

·         Protecting profitability and nipping new outbreaks in the bud

·         Protecting social cohesion with their community

·         Having a strong environmental stewardship ethic

It is valuable to inform land managers of their legal responsibilities and the impacts that infestation can have on lifestyle and financial resources. However, a community-based control program appears to have even greater potential to improve cooperation and trust between neighbouring land managers, and therefore improve weed management at a district scale.

An effective community-based program must be underpinned by social connectedness between participants in order for control measures to be implemented across boundaries. A high level of ‘social capital’ in a community motivates compliance with accepted social norms in the community, and enhances the development of mutual trust and willingness to reciprocate on weed control activity.

Factors considered essential for trust and willingness to develop amongst neighbours include:

·         A strong sense of community.

·         Acknowledgement that the weed problem is relevant on both sides of the fence.

·         Peer pressure, ‘forcing’ landholders to comply with good land management ‘norms’

·         Positive relationships and clear communication between private and public land managers.

·         Attendance at field days, allowing neighbours to get to know each other and discuss joint land management problems.

·         Relatively small group sizes to allow trust to develop between group members.

·         Achievable goals to maintain interest in reciprocal activity.

·         Farmer willingness to provide advice to their peers.

 

You can read all 153 pages here.