scholarly journals Alientoma, a Dynamic Database for Alien Insects in Greece and Its Use by Citizen Scientists in Mapping Alien Species

Insects ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (12) ◽  
pp. 1101
Author(s):  
Konstantinos Kalaentzis ◽  
Christos Kazilas ◽  
Jakovos Demetriou ◽  
Evangelos Koutsoukos ◽  
Dimitrios N. Avtzis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alien Species ◽  
Scientific Community ◽  
Invasive Alien Species ◽  
Global Scale ◽  
Scale Insects ◽  
Online Database ◽  
The Public ◽  
Major Threat ◽  
Adverse Impacts ◽  
Raising Awareness

Invasive alien species have been increasingly acknowledged as a major threat to native biodiversity and ecosystem services, while their adverse impacts expand to human health, society and the economy on a global scale. Insects represent one of the most numerous alien organismic groups, accounting for about one fifth of their total number. In Greece, a large number of alien insects have been identified, currently reaching 469 species. In recent decades, the contribution of citizen science towards detecting and mapping the distribution of alien insects has been steeply increasing. Addressing the need for up-to-date information on alien species as well as encouraging public participation in scientific research, the Alientoma website—derived from “alien” and the Greek word “entoma”, meaning insects, is presented. The website aims towards providing updated information on alien species of insects to the public as well as the scientific community, raising awareness about biological invasions and addressing their distribution and impacts inter alia. By maintaining a dynamic online database alongside a strong social media presence since its launch, Alientoma has attracted individuals mainly from Greece and Cyprus, interacting with the website through a total of 1512 sessions. Alientoma intends to establish a constantly increasing network of citizen scientists and to supplement early detection, monitoring and management efforts to mitigate the adverse impacts of alien insects in Greece.

International Initiatives Against Invasive Alien Species

2005 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 523-527 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mick N. Clout ◽  
Maj De Poorter
Keyword(s):  
Alien Species ◽  
International Cooperation ◽  
Biological Diversity ◽  
Invasive Alien Species ◽  
Global Scale ◽  
Major Threat ◽  
International Instruments

Invasive alien species (IAS) are a major threat to biological diversity on a global scale, necessitating international cooperation to address the problem. This paper gives the context in which action against IAS needs to take place, explains the need for international cooperation, and provides examples of key international instruments, strategies, and programs to deal with IAS.

scholarly journals The ‘Astronomy for the Public’ Task Force

2012 ◽  
Vol 10 (H16) ◽  
pp. 550-551
Author(s):  
Carolina J. Ödman-Govender ◽  
Ian E. Robson
Keyword(s):  
Citizen Science ◽  
General Public ◽  
Scientific Community ◽  
Task Force ◽  
Scientific Thinking ◽  
The Public ◽  
Raising Awareness ◽  
Set Up ◽  
Force Range ◽  
The Universe

AbstractOne of the ways in which astronomy can stimulate development is by raising awareness of our place in the universe among the general public. This contributes to inspiring people and brings the scientific community and scientific thinking closer to everyone. The IAU OAD has set up one task force dedicated to ‘Astronomy for the Public’. Proposed activities of the task force range from low-tech astronomy outreach to citizen science. We will present the task force, its objectives and potential developmental impacts for the first few years of operation.

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 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 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 Protecting Biodiversity from Invasive Alien Species by Improving Policy Instruments in Greece: The INVALIS Project Action Plan

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (11) ◽  
pp. 1205
Author(s):  
Orfeas Roussos ◽  
Christina Kapetanopoulou ◽  
Dimitra Petza
Keyword(s):  
Alien Species ◽  
Invasive Alien Species ◽  
Public Awareness ◽  
Action Plan ◽  
Policy Instruments ◽  
Specific Policy ◽  
Raising Awareness ◽  
Policy Measures ◽  
And Control ◽  
Of Greece

The Protecting European Biodiversity from Invasive Alien Species (INVALIS) project objective is to improve policies for protecting biodiversity from invasive alien species (IAS), by bringing together seven partners from seven countries and supporting policy measures for prevention, early detection, and control of IAS in their respective territories. The project is funded by the Interreg Europe program. The learning process of the INVALIS project consisted of various experience-exchanging activities among the project partners (interregional workshops, site visits, etc.), as well as among stakeholders at a regional level. This exchange of experiences led to the drafting of regional Action Plans by each partner. The INVALIS Action Plan of Greece is based on an analysis of the current situation of IAS management in Greece, and the transfer of good practices and conclusions derived from the exchange of experiences. Gaps in IAS management were identified mainly in the areas of raising public awareness of IAS and networking among IAS stakeholders. As a result, three actions were proposed to address these deficits: initiating a project on education and raising awareness about IAS, creating a web portal on these species, and establishing an IAS management working group. These actions will contribute towards improving specific policy instruments in Greece.

The Fight Against Doubt

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Inmaculada de Melo-Martín ◽  
Kristen Intemann
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Scientific Community ◽  
Vaccine Safety ◽  
False Beliefs ◽  
Scientific Process ◽  
The Public ◽  
Scientific Consensus ◽  
Scientific Claims

Current debates about climate change or vaccine safety provide an alarming illustration of the potential impacts of dissent about scientific claims. False beliefs about evidence and the conclusions that can be drawn from it are commonplace, as is corrosive doubt about the existence of widespread scientific consensus. Deployed aggressively and to political ends, ill-founded dissent can intimidate scientists, stymie research, and lead both the public and policymakers to oppose important policies firmly rooted in science. To criticize dissent is, however, a fraught exercise. Skepticism and fearless debate are key to the scientific process, making it both vital and incredibly difficult to characterize and identify dissent that is problematic in its approach and consequences. Indeed, as de Melo-Martín and Intemann show, the criteria commonly proposed as means of identifying inappropriate dissent are flawed, and the strategies generally recommended to tackle such dissent are not only ineffective but could even make the situation worse. The Fight against Doubt proposes that progress on this front can best be achieved by enhancing the trustworthiness of the scientific community and being more realistic about the limits of science when it comes to policymaking. It shows that a richer understanding is needed of the context in which science operates so as to disarm problematic dissent and those who deploy it in the pursuit of their goals.

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