1. Raising Awareness and Support
Module 10
Raising Awareness and
Support

2. Learning Outcomes
Understand why raising awareness is critical in the fight against invasive alien species (IAS)
Know the key elements of awareness raising

3. Who is a stakeholder?
A stakeholder is any person or organization who contributes to, or is affected, positively or negatively, by invasive species.

4. Raising awareness
Awareness-raising and education are a critical component in the fight against IAS
Awareness-raising should cover issues of causes, impacts of IAS as well as solutions.
All sections of society should be included

5. Objectives of raising awareness
Greater understanding of issues
“Ownership” of the problem, and involvement in the solutions
Greater acceptability of measures to address IAS
Increased political support / greater resources

6. Why raise awareness?
Human related activities are a major facilitator or pathway for alien species spread.
Asian ladybird beetle (Harmonia axyridis)
Introduced as a biocontrol agent, but proved invasive in Belgium and North America
Hedera helix, a garden escapee that is now a major invader

7. Why raise awareness?
Invasive alien species have differential impacts on different groups of people.
Salvinia clogging a lake.
Photo by Scott Bauer (USDA, Agricultural Research Service)
Sudden Oak Death – symptoms
Photo by Joseph O'Brien, USDA Forest Service

8. Why raise awareness? People at all levels form part of the solution.
Children taking part in a weedbuster programme, New Zealand
Participation in an Alligator weed awareness programme, Australia

9. Planning an awareness raising activity
Key elements
Decide what to raise awareness about.
Define the target audience
Use appropriate communication

10. Some objectives are: Disseminate information on IAS
Increase awareness of a particular species and its impacts
Encourage stakeholders to take a specific action
To bring about a change in attitude
Build support for IAS management
Motivate people to participate in programmes and activities

11. Define the target audience They can be broadly classified into
general public
focused stakeholders
industry
policy makers

12. Use appropriate tools and techniques
Using the right tool or a combination of tools will result in a better outcome
Consistent messages
Use of eye catching logos
Use flagship species
The school at Natividad Island, Mexico adopted the black-vented shearwater and the abalone as their school mascots and constructed a new school sign.

13. Use appropriate tools and techniques
Messages that not only educate but also motivate to change actions
Educational and eyecatching

14. Summary
Raising awareness and educating stakeholders is a central instrument in the fight against (IAS)
Awareness-raising efforts should be targeted at all levels of society
Humans are at the heart of the problem of IAS and, paradoxically, also at the heart of the solution