Adoption, use and perception of Australian acacias around the world

Abstract

Aim To examine the different uses and perceptions of introduced Australian acacias (wattles; Acacia subgenus Phyllodineae) by rural households and communities. Location Eighteen landscape‐scale case studies around the world, in Vietnam, India, Réunion, Madagascar, South Africa, Congo, Niger, Ethiopia, Israel, France, Portugal, Brazil, Chile, Dominican Republic and Hawai‘i. Methods Qualitative comparison of case studies, based on questionnaire sent to network of acacia researchers. Information based on individual knowledge of local experts, published and unpublished sources. Results We propose a conceptual model to explain current uses and perceptions of introduced acacias. It highlights historically and geographically contingent processes, including economic development, environmental discourses, political context, and local or regional needs. Four main groupings of case studies were united by similar patterns: (1) poor communities benefiting from targeted agroforestry projects; (2) places where residents, generally poor, take advantage of a valuable resource already present in their landscape via plantation and/or invasion; (3) regions of small and mid‐scale tree farmers participating in the forestry industry; and (4) a number of high‐income communities dealing with the legacies of former or niche use of introduced acacia in a context of increased concern over biodiversity and ecosystem services. Main conclusions Economic conditions play a key role shaping acacia use. Poorer communities rely strongly on acacias (often in, or escaped from, formal plantations) for household needs and, sometimes, for income. Middle‐income regions more typically host private farm investments in acacia woodlots for commercialization. Efforts at control of invasive acacias must take care to not adversely impact poor dependent communities.

Stakeholder perceptions and practices regarding Prosopis (mesquite) invasions and management in South Africa

“…One framework suggests that the abundance of invasions is the dominant factor influencing perceptions (Shackleton et al 2007). Other factors such as biophysical characteristics of the local environment, potential uses, growth form of the plant, mode of introduction, social context of the area (socioeconomic status, local policies, and land tenure), and familiarity with the invasive species clearly also shape perceptions and use of invasive aliens (Kull et al 2011;Rai and Scarborough 2014). Aesthetic values relating to invasive species have also been found to influence the perceptions of invasions (Dickie et al 2014), and were highlighted to a limited extent in our results.…”

“…Insights on the human dimensions of invasive alien species are essential for effective decision making; in many cases, complex social issues delineate the full suite of benefits and costs associated with invasions (García-Llorente et al 2008). Research is needed to evaluate stakeholder knowledge, perceptions, practices, awareness, and wants and needs relating to biological invasions (Shackleton et al 2007;Eiswerth et al 2011;Kull et al 2011;Rai and Scarborough 2014). This is particularly important for invasive species that were introduced for specific purposes and where complex conflicts of interest now exist due to the provision of valuable consumptive and nonconsumptive services (Shackleton et al 2007;Low 2012a;Dickie et al 2014;van Wilgen and Richardson 2014).…”

“…However, understanding of the social dimensions of Prosopis invasions is poor, and this is thwarting attempts to implement effective management to reduce the costs while, where possible, maintaining some or all of the benefits (Richardson 1998). Key factors that influence human perceptions of invasive alien species generally relate to the abundance of the invader, the services it provides, the time since introduction, the mode of introduction, and many sociopolitical features of human societies (Shackleton et al 2007;Kull et al 2011;Rai and Scarborough 2014).…”

Plantas exóticas invasoras e instrumentos de gestão territorial. O caso paradigmático do género Acacia em Portugal

“…Em diversos locais do globo, as espécies de Acacia introduzidas são recebidas e percecionadas socialmente de forma positiva, sendo valorizadas como um recurso e desempenhando um papel no desenvolvimento económico regional (Kull et al 2011).…”

Distribution and socio-ecological impacts of the invasive alien cactus Opuntia stricta in eastern Africa

“…However, it is often difficult to justify the expenditure of scarce resources to support the control of invasive alien species because of a lack of evidence of impacts, or in many cases differences of opinion regarding the magnitude of impacts . When impacts are studied, it is most often from ecological or economic perspectives and studies based on social perspectives are rare, although they are receiving increasing attention (Shackleton et al 2007;Garcia et al 2008;García-Llorente et al 2011;Kull et al 2011;Kannan et al 2014;Shackleton et al 2015). An understanding of social perspectives is important, as it is often people that influence plant distribution and need management of invasions to reduce impacts and enhance benefits.…”