Invasive species challenge the integrity of ecosystems, especially on islands. Caribbean islands make up one of the world’s 25 global biodiversity hotspots, with about 60% of the region’s 12,000 plant species being... [ view full abstract ]
Invasive species challenge the integrity of ecosystems, especially on islands. Caribbean islands make up one of the world’s 25 global biodiversity hotspots, with about 60% of the region’s 12,000 plant species being endemic. Utrecht University works in Saba and St. Eustatius to facilitate decision-making regarding the management of invasive alien plant species (IAS), such as Coral vine. Introduced as an ornamental plant, it is regarded as a beautiful flower by some, a threat to nature by others, and an annoying weed in the garden by almost all. Development is both a cause of this invasion, and could be a solution to it. Economic development in the form of the establishment of an oil terminal in St. Eustatius, moved people away from agriculture by providing higher-regarded jobs. Additionally, the economic development it stirred, redirected consumption patterns towards more supermarket-based consumption, compounding the decline in agriculture. Former agricultural fields are a significant share of the area covered in Coral vine, which on St. Eustatius is estimated to be at 15% of the island’s surface. Economic development might also harbor solutions to managing the vine, for example when the promotion of tourism generates an urge to improve land management. We try to link economic development and land use management considerations through supporting decision making on IAS management. To that end, we have looked at the valuation of ecosystem services, and employed participatory mapping.
First, to understand how Coral vine’s effects on ecosystem services are experienced by stakeholders, we investigated how different ecosystem services are valued. We employed Q methodology to elicit stakeholder groups around ecosystem service discourses, by having participants rate 48 statements on a normal distribution. The statements were based on 4 discursive claims regarding 12 landscape values, adapted to the local context. Factor analysis will derive several discourses from this, which we take to designate stakeholder groups. Those groups will be the basis for next research steps on the potential for management. Second, the presence and valuation of ecosystem services differs spatially, and hence does the impact of Coral vine. Therefore, we employed participatory mapping by having participants choose 5 areas they would like to see free from the vine, as well as explain why. Overlaying the different areas shows a couple of priority areas, which we will compare with maps on the presence of and habitat suitability for Coral vine. On the “hotspots” that appear like this, one could base zoning proposals.
Having identified the different stakeholder groups and hotspot areas we aim to support decision-making on IAS management, by kick-starting dialogue among government, scientists, citizens and nature managers on the islands in a next research step.
