Participation for protection: how collaboration between local communities, government agencies, and researchers can protect native species from invasive species.
Abstract
This article describes a six-step framework that includes local ecological, economic and social knowledge to select the best management strategies to control the impacts of foxes and feral cats on Minjerribah, an island in Southeast Queensland. It was shown that under current local conditions, a high intensity control plan to eradicate red foxes is the best management option for meeting conservation objectives in Minjerribah. The preference for this strategy can be explained by the general perception that fox ecology is better understood, familiarity with current control measures and wider political and community support, as foxes are not considered companion animals (like cats). However, more research is needed regarding alternative management strategies to jointly control the impacts of feral cats and foxes, as previous research has shown that joint-management is the most effective approach to control invasive species populations.