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Ethical dilemmas when using citizen science for early detection of invasive tree pests and diseases

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Pocock_2020_MBII_ethical_dilemaas_CC.pdf (432.6Kb)
Date
21/10/2020
Author
Pocock, Michael J.O.
Marzano, Mariella
Bullas-Appleton, Erin
Dyke, Alison
de Groot, Maarten
Shuttleworth, Craig M.
White, Rehema
Keywords
Alien species
Eradication
Participatory research
Volunteer
G Geography (General)
Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
Ecology
Management, Monitoring, Policy and Law
T-NDAS
Metadata
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Abstract
The early detection of tree health pests and disease is an important component of biosecurity to protect the aesthetic, recreational and economic importance of trees, woodlands and forestry. Citizen science is valuable in supporting the early detection of tree pests and diseases. Different stakeholders (government, business, society and individual) will vary in their opinion of the balance between costs and benefits of early detection and consequent management, partly because many costs are local whereas benefits are felt at larger scales. This can create clashes in motivations of those involved in citizen science, thus leading to ethical dilemmas about what is good and responsible conduct for the use of citizen science. We draw on our experience of tree health citizen science to exemplify five dilemmas. These dilemmas arise because: the consequences of detection may locally be severe (e.g. the destruction of trees); knowledge of these impacts could lead to refusal to make citizen science reports; citizen science reports can be made freely, but can be costly to respond to; participants may expect solutions even if these are not possible; and early detection is (by definition) a rare event. Effective engagement and dialogue across stakeholders, including public stakeholders, is important to properly address these issues. This is vital to ensure the public’s long-term support for and trust in the use of citizen science for the early detection of tree pests and diseases.
Citation
Pocock , M J O , Marzano , M , Bullas-Appleton , E , Dyke , A , de Groot , M , Shuttleworth , C M & White , R 2020 , ' Ethical dilemmas when using citizen science for early detection of invasive tree pests and diseases ' , Management of Biological Invasions , vol. 11 , no. 4 , pp. 720-732 . https://doi.org/10.3391/mbi.2020.11.4.07
Publication
Management of Biological Invasions
Status
Peer reviewed
DOI
https://doi.org/10.3391/mbi.2020.11.4.07
ISSN
1989-8649
Type
Journal article
Rights
Copyright: © Pocock et al. This is an open access article distributed under terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (Attribution 4.0 International - CC BY 4.0)
Description
This article is a part of the conference Detection and control of alien forest species in a changing world organized by the project LIFE ARTEMIS (LIFE15 GIE/SI/000770), co-funded by the LIFE programme, Ministry of Environment and Spatial planning of the Republic of Slovenia, the Municipality of Ljubljana and the Slovenian Research Agency. The article processing charges were covered by the project LIFE ARTEMIS.
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  • University of St Andrews Research
URI
http://hdl.handle.net/10023/21218

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