Conflicting values: ecosystem services and invasive tree management

By Ian A. DICKIE, Brett M. Bennett, L. Burrows, Martin A. Nuñez, D. Peltzer, A. Porté, D. Richardson, M. Rejmánek, Philip W. Rundel, B. V. van Wilgen. Biological Invasions, 2013

287 citations recorded by the source corpus.

Tree species have been planted widely beyond their native ranges to provide or enhance ecosystem services such as timber and fibre production, erosion control, and aesthetic or amenity benefits. At the same time, non-native tree species can have strongly negative impacts on ecosystem services when they naturalize and subsequently become invasive and disrupt or transform communities and ecosystems. The dichotomy between positive and negative effects on ecosystem services has led to significant conflicts over the removal of non-native invasive tree species worldwide. These conflicts are often viewed in only a local context but we suggest that a global synthesis sheds important light on the dimensions of the phenomenon. We collated examples of conflict surrounding the control or management of tree invasions where conflict has caused delay, increased cost, or cessation of projects aimed at invasive tree removal. We found that conflicts span a diverse range of taxa, systems and countries, and that most conflicts emerge around three areas: urban and near-urban trees; trees that provide direct economic benefits; and invasive trees that are used by native species for habitat or food. We suggest that such conflict should be seen as a normal occurrence in invasive tree removal. Assessing both positive and negative effects of invasive species on multiple ecosystem services may provide a useful framework for the resolution of conflicts.

Subfields: Global and Planetary Change, Nature and Landscape Conservation

View Paper: https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/47ac18d8d648be4f66d774999abcd81042a4a1ae

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In Global and Planetary Change

In Nature and Landscape Conservation

Citations in the corpus

The role of species charisma in biological invasions (2020, background): “However, attempts to control charismatic alien plants, such as large pines ( Pinus spp) or eucalypti ( Eucalyptus spp), have also faced opposition (Nuñez and Simberloff 2005; Dickie et al .”
Non-native species in urban environments: patterns, processes, impacts and challenges (2017, background): “Given the multitude of stakeholders in cities, conflicts over the management of invasive species can be particularly intense and complex (e.g., Dickie et al. 2014 for trees; Crowley et al. 2017 for vertebrates).”
Does public awareness increase support for invasive species management? Promising evidence across taxa and landscape types (2017, background): “The duality of such impacts, both positive and negative, influences the management of such invasive alien species and can raise substantial conflicts of interests (Dickie et al. 2014; Estévez et al. 2015).”