Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-vdxz6 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-23T20:37:10.606Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Effective Weed Management, Collective Action, and Landownership Change in Western Montana

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Laurie Yung*
Affiliation:
Natural Resource Social Science, Department of Society and Conservation, College of Forestry and Conservation, University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812
John Chandler
Affiliation:
Data Insights, 2216 Garfield Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55405
Marijka Haverhals
Affiliation:
University of Idaho, College of Agriculture and Life Science, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID 83844
*
Corresponding author's E-mail: [email protected]

Abstract

Rural landscapes are increasingly diverse and heterogeneous, involving a mix of small and large parcels, amenity and agricultural properties, and resident and absentee owners. Managing invasive plants in landscapes with changing ownership requires understanding the views and practices of different landowners. We surveyed landowners in two rural valleys with 26% absentee ownership and a large number of small parcels in Missoula County, Montana. Landowners indicated a high level of awareness and concern about weeds; more than 80% agreed that weeds are a problem in their valley. Seventy-eight percent of landowners managed weeds, but only 63% were effective at weed management. Absentee owners were far less likely to manage weeds on their properties and less likely to utilize herbicides, as compared with resident landowners. Landowners reported that seeds coming from adjacent properties were the most significant barrier to effective weed control. Many landowners manage weeds to be a good neighbor and believe that cooperation between neighbors is critical to weed management.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Weed Science Society of America 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Literature Cited

Daab, MT, Flint, CG (2010) Public reaction to invasive plant species in a disturbed Colorado landscape. Invasive Plant Sci Manag 3:390401 Google Scholar
Dutcher, DD, Finley, JC, Luloff, AE, Johnson, J (2004) Landowner perceptions of protecting and establishing riparian forests: a qualitative analysis. Soc Nat Resour 17:319332 Google Scholar
Epanchin-Niell, RS, Hufford, MB, Aslan, CE, Sexton, JP, Port, JD, Waring, TM (2010) Controlling invasive species in complex social landscapes. Front Ecol Environ 8:210216 Google Scholar
Epanchin-Niell, RS, Wilen, JE (2015) Individual and cooperative management of invasive species in human-mediated landscapes. Am J Agric Econ 97:180198 Google Scholar
Fischer, AP, Charnley, S (2012) Private forest owners and invasive plants: risk perception and management. Invasive Plant Sci Manag 5:375389 Google Scholar
Graham, S (2013) Three cooperative pathways to solving a collective weed management problem. Australas J Environ Manag 20:116129 Google Scholar
Hersbdorfer, ME, Fernandez-Gimenez, ME, Howery, LD (2007) Key attributes influence the performance of local weed management programs in the southwest United States. Rangeland Ecol Manag 60:225234 Google Scholar
Howle, MB, Straka, TJ, Nespeca, MC (2010) Family forest owners’ perceptions on chemical methods for invasive species control. Invasive Plant Sci Manag 3:253261 Google Scholar
Kapler, EJ, Thompson, JR, Widrlechner, MP (2012) Assessing stakeholder perspectives on invasive plants to inform risk analysis. Invasive Plant Sci Manag 5:194208 Google Scholar
Kelley, WK, Fernandez-Gimenez, ME, Brown, CS (2013) Managing downy brome (Bromus tectorum) in the central Rockies: land managers perspectives. Invasive Plant Sci Manag 6:521535 Google Scholar
Klepeis, P, Gill, N, Chisholm, L (2009) Emerging amenity landscapes: invasive weeds and land subdivision in rural Australia. Land Use Policy 26:380392 Google Scholar
Lui, S, Sheppard, A, Kriticos, D, Cook, D (2011) Incorporating uncertainty and social values in managing invasive alien species: a deliberative multi-criteria evaluation approach. Biol Invasions 13:23232337 Google Scholar
Norgaard, KM (2007) The politics of invasive weed management: gender, race, and risk perception in rural California. Rural Sociol 72:450477 Google Scholar
Raymond, L, Olive, A (2008) Landowner beliefs regarding biodiversity protection on private property: an Indiana case study. Soc Nat Resour 21:483497 Google Scholar
Salant, P, Dillman, DA (1994) How to conduct your own survey. Hoboken, NJ Wiley. 232 pGoogle Scholar
Sheley, RL, Jacobs, JS, Floyd, JE (1996) Noxious weed survey: awareness and attitudes in Montana. Weed Technol 10:592598 Google Scholar
Steele, J, McGill, DW, Chandran, RS, Grafton, WN, Huebner, CD (2008) Landowner characteristics associated with receiving information about invasive plants and implications for outreach providers. J Extension 46(6):17 Google Scholar
Steele, J, McGill, DW, Chandran, RS, Grafton, WN, Huebner, CD, McGill, DW (2006) Awareness and management of invasive plants among West Virginia woodland owners. J For 104:248253 Google Scholar