scholarly journals Public Awareness and Perceptions of Invasive Alien Species in Small Towns

Biology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. 1322
Author(s):  
Nolwethu Jubase ◽  
Ross T. Shackleton ◽  
John Measey
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Alien Species ◽  
Invasive Alien Species ◽  
Public Awareness ◽  
Small Towns ◽  
Western Cape ◽  
Local Perceptions ◽  
The Public ◽  
And Gender ◽  
Demographic Covariates

Invasive alien species (IAS) are a growing threat globally and cause a variety of ecological, economic, and social impacts. People can introduce IAS and facilitate their spread, and can also implement, support, or oppose their management. Understanding local knowledge, awareness, and perceptions are therefore crucial if management and policy are to be effective. We administered questionnaires to members of the public in eight small towns along the Berg River Catchment in the biodiverse fynbos biome of South Africa. We aimed to assess: (1) awareness of IAS by the general public, (2) local perceptions of the impacts associated with IAS, (3) whether awareness of IAS is correlated with demographic covariates and IAS density, and (4) people’s willingness to detect, report, and support IAS management. Overall, 262 respondents participated in the survey. Most respondents (65%) did not know what IAS are, and 10% were unsure. Many respondents also perceived IAS as beneficial. Using a logistic regression, we found that IAS density, educational level, and gender influenced people’s knowledge and perceptions about IAS in the region. There were a small number (4%) of respondents currently detecting and reporting IAS, but many respondents were interested to learn more. We concluded that people living in small towns in the Western Cape of South Africa remain largely unaware of IAS and their impacts. It is crucial to increase awareness-raising initiatives, and build support and engagement in management of IAS in small towns.

scholarly journals POPULATION AWARENESS OF THE HARMFULNESS OF SOSNOWSKY'S HOGWEED IN REZEKNE MUNICIPALITY

2017 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
pp. 281
Author(s):  
Inta Kotane ◽  
Anda Zvaigzne
Keyword(s):  
Alien Species ◽  
Agricultural Land ◽  
Invasive Alien Species ◽  
Preventive Measures ◽  
Public Awareness ◽  
Descriptive Analysis ◽  
The Public ◽  
Land Owners ◽  
Data Grouping ◽  
Research Grant

Invasive alien species are one of the most urgent problems to be addressed to maintain biodiversity in the world. Sosnowsky's hogweed (Heracleum sosnowskyi) has been included in Latvia’s list of invasive alien species. The population’s awareness of the problem of Sosnowsky's hogweed may be viewed as one of the preventive measures to avoid the spread of the weed, which also allows optimally using financial resources. Research studies show that the levels of public awareness of Sosnowsky's hogweed and its harmfulness are different. The paper is based on the implementation results for the research grant "Investigation into the Information Society regarding the Control and Hazards of Sosnowsky's Hogweed in Rezekne Municipality”. The research aim of the paper is to examine the Rezekne municipality population’s awareness of the harmfulness of Sosnowsky's hogweed and their wish to acquire or build up their knowledge about the harmfulness of Sosnowsky's hogweed based on the results of a survey/interview of experts and a survey of the population. The research results – the results of the survey and the interview – revealed that the population could identify Sosnowsky's hogweed in nature, and the population, including agricultural land owners/managers were sufficiently informed about the harmfulness of Sosnowsky's hogweed. For the population, the most appropriate way of acquiring information about Sosnowsky's hogweed would be Internet websites, even though the experts considered the websites to be a partly effective way of informing the public. Research methods used: monographic, descriptive, analysis, synthesis, data grouping and sociological methods – a survey/interview of industry experts and a survey of the population.

scholarly journals Short Communication: Local perceptions about utilization of invasive alien species Opuntia ficus-indica in three Local Municipalities in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
LULEKA MDWESHU ◽  
A. Maroyi
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Alien Species ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Short Communication ◽  
Invasive Alien Species ◽  
Eastern Cape Province ◽  
Eastern Cape ◽  
Local Perceptions ◽  
Opuntia Ficus Indica ◽  
Local Municipalities

Abstract. Mdweshu L, Maroyi A. 2020. Short Communication: Local perceptions about utilization of invasive alien species Opuntia ficus-indica in three Local Municipalities in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. Biodiversitas 21: 1653-1659.  Opuntia ficus-indica is a succulent plant species categorized as invasive in South Africa but has both commercial and non-market uses. This study evaluated local people’s perceptions about utilization of O. ficus-indica in three local Municipalities in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. Data on the local perceptions on O. ficus-indica in the study area were documented through focus group discussions and semi-structured interviews via questionnaires with households between June 2018 and August 2019. A sample of 150 participants chosen using snowball-sampling method provided information on utilization of O. ficus-indica. The importance of O. ficus-indica as a useful plant species was ubiquitously perceived, with all participants reporting its contribution as an important component of their livelihood needs and more than three quarters (88.0%) were using the species on a regular basis. Close to half of the respondents (49.3%) regarded O. ficus-indica as an important source of cash income. The positive socio-economic contributions of O. ficus-indica need to be taken into account when evaluating the costs and benefits resulting from invasions caused by alien plant species.

scholarly journals Nurses’ views on promotion and the influence of race, class and gender in relation to the Employment Equity Act

2019 ◽  
Vol 45 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mariana M. Van der Heever ◽  
Anita S. Van der Merwe ◽  
Talitha Crowley
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Public Sector ◽  
Diversity Training ◽  
Survey Design ◽  
Mixed Race ◽  
Western Cape ◽  
Employment Equity ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Managerial Positions ◽  
And Gender

Orientation: Regardless of the implementation of the Employment Equity Act (EEA), No. 55 of 1998 and the abolishment of apartheid in 1994, African and mixed-race females are under-represented in managerial positions in the public sector of the Western Cape (WC) in South Africa and nationally in the private health sector.Research purpose: The purpose was to explore the views of nurses about promotion to managerial positions in view of the Employment Equity Act (EEA) and the possible influence of race, class and gender.Motivation for the study: South Africa has a history of racial hierarchies and gender inequities. It was therefore important to explore the influence of the EEA and race, class and gender on the promotion of nurses in the post-apartheid context.Research approach/design and method: A cross-sectional descriptive survey design was completed. Six hundred and eighty-eight (n = 688) nurses consented to participate and 573 (83%) questionnaires were returned.Main findings: Race as a social construct surfaced in the superior viewing of white and the inferior viewing of African nurses. Mixed-race and white nurses seemed disgruntled with the EEA because of the benefits it holds for African nurses. African nurses seemed angered by their under-representation in managerial positions in the private and public sectors in the WC. White nurses seemed convinced that African, mixed-race and Indian nurses experience upward mobility. Mixed-race nurses (public sector WC) showed concerns about the career successes of males in a female-dominated profession.Practical/managerial implications: Managerial structures should be required to invest in diversity training, create awareness of the noble intentions of the EEA and communicate the relevance of employment equity plans.Contribution/value-add: The findings provided evidence that reflected a need for diversity training and the creation of awareness about the longstanding influence of racial and gender hierarchies.

Invasive Alien Species in Switzerland: Awareness and Preferences of Experts and the Public

2019 ◽  
Vol 63 (1) ◽  
pp. 80-93
Author(s):  
Xenia Junge ◽  
Marcel Hunziker ◽  
Nicole Bauer ◽  
Arne Arnberger ◽  
Roland Olschewski
Keyword(s):  
Alien Species ◽  
Invasive Alien Species ◽  
The Public

scholarly journals Education And SMME Business Growth: A Gender Perspective From South Africa

2013 ◽  
Vol 12 (8) ◽  
pp. 855 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pradeep Brijlal ◽  
Visvanathan Naicker ◽  
Ricardo Peters
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Positive Relationship ◽  
Business Owners ◽  
Western Cape ◽  
Business Growth ◽  
Men And Women ◽  
Level Of Education ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
And Gender ◽  
Support Programmes

Entrepreneurship is becoming an increasingly important source of employment for women in many countries. Policymakers and other stakeholders typically fail to differentiate between the needs of different SMME sectors when designing support programmes. Using survey data obtained from SMME owner managers in the Western Cape, this article attempts to identify whether the level of education and gender has an impact on business growth. A survey instrument in the form of a questionnaire was utilized to capture the data from 369 face-to-face interviews. The findings from this research reveal a positive relationship between the level of education of business owners and their respective business abilities to increase business growth. There were no significant differences between men and women in relation to business growth. The research has implications for policymakers seeking to understand the factors that influence business growth.

Maireana brevifolia (Chenopodiaceae: Camphorosmeae), a new naturalized alien plant species in South Africa

Bothalia ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 41 (2) ◽  
pp. 235-238 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Mucina ◽  
D. A. Snijman
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Alien Species ◽  
South African ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Western Cape ◽  
Alien Plant Species ◽  
The South ◽  
Alien Plant ◽  
African Flora

We describe and discuss the distribution of a new, naturalized alien species, Maireana brevifolia (R.Br.) Paul G.Wilson (Chenopodiaceae), a native of Australia, in the western regions of South Africa. First discovered near Worcester, Western Cape in 1976, the species is now established in disturbed karoo shrubby rangelands, along dirt roads and on saline alluvia, from northern Namaqualand to the western Little Karoo. In the South African flora, M. brevifolia is most easily confused with the indigenous Bassia salsoloides (Fenzl) A.J.Scott, from which it is distinguished by the flat to cup-shaped and almost glabrous perianth with woolly-ciliate lobes, and the hardened and winged fruiting perianth.

Constructing and Contesting Histories of Slavery at the Cape, South Africa

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Antonia Malan ◽  
Nigel Worden
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Historical Record ◽  
Western Cape ◽  
The Public ◽  
Early Colonial ◽  
Public Consciousness ◽  
Permanent Settlement ◽  
Special Value ◽  
The Indian Ocean ◽  
Indian Ocean World

This chapter discusses slavery in South Africa. Chattel slavery existed in early colonial South Africa from the inception of the Dutch permanent settlement in 1658 until formal emancipation of slaves in the British empire in the 1830s. More than 80,000 slaves were imported from throughout the Indian Ocean world during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. Although in the time of apartheid this slave heritage was buried in the public consciousness, since the 1990s museums, historians, and archaeologists have unearthed and published a considerable historical record, endorsed by new heritage legislation which gives special value to sites of slavery. Slave history is taught in universities and schools. However, especially for those descended from slaves in the Western Cape region, the evocation of a slave past has been a vexed process, with slave heritage serving as both a resource and a weapon in contemporary identity struggles.

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