Urban residents' knowledge of and attitudes and willingness to control woody invasive alien plants in their domestic gardens in South Africa

Abstract Invasive alien species are considered a major contributor to biodiversity loss. Yet, many are favoured for particular ecosystem services that they provide. This is often so in urban environments experiencing rapid environmental and social change and land transformation. Public support is viewed as critical for invasive alien species prevention and management. Furthermore, it is assumed that local citizens are more likely to be willing and ready to engage if they are informed about the costs and benefits associated with invasive alien species. However, the use of, and attitudes towards, invasive alien species in urban areas is poorly understood, especially regarding urban gardens under private ownership and control. This lack of understanding is likely to compromise potential management interventions. Here, we report on a survey of 240 people across 12 small towns in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa to determine their knowledge and perceptions regarding woody invasive alien plants (IAPs), their willingness to engage in control and how these vary in relation to respondent attributes. The findings indicated that respondents have low levels of knowledge about woody IAPs despite 84% of them having at least one woody IAP species in their garden. Nineteen different woody IAPs were noted across the sample of 240 households. A wide range of ecosystem services and disservices from woody IAPs were mentioned. Because of the benefits provided, or the effort required to remove them, only 56% of respondents were willing to have the woody IAPs removed from their gardens, with most considering it the responsibility of government agencies to do so. There was a positive association between the levels of education, income, and the impression that woody IAPs pose a problem and being aware of the term, but not willingness to remove them. Synthesis and implications. These results reveal the complex relationship that urban citizens have with IAPs in garden settings, and for authorities to consider appropriate and targeted awareness campaigns if control strategies are to be successful. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.