threat ranking. which threat to choose? project scope: guam’s native wildlife & habitats guam...
TRANSCRIPT
Threat Ranking
Which threat to choose?
Project Scope: Guam’s Native
Wildlife & Habitats
Guam Rail
Guam’s Terrestr
ial Native Wildlife
& Habitats
Erosion/Run-off
Feral/ Nuisance animals
Pollution/Litter
Invasive Species
Off-roading
Tourists
Habitat Loss
Over-harvesting
Cultural Hunting
Wildland Arson
Lack of awareness
Sewage loads/spills
Chemical pollution
Urban development &
construction
Mitigation
Lack of money
Traditional practices
Educational outreach
Lifestyle choices
Increased population
Smoke
Light cycle
Nationalsecurity
War
Unemployment
Cultural migration
Corruption in government
Legislative & legal directives
Militarybuildup
Greenhouse/gas emissions
Global warming
Weather events
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Rank Threats by 3 Factors
Scope – proportion of area likely to be affected within a time frame by a specific threat
Severity – level of damage expected within time frame
Irreversibility – importance of taking immediate action to counter threat
Threat (Factor) Criteria TotalScore
Ranking
Scope Severity Irreversibility
Create a Threat-Ranking Table
For each criteria, score the threat factor using a five point scale:
0 = no threat1 = low2= Medium3 = High4= Very High
Use the Following Direct Threats
• Invasive Species• Feral/Nuisance Animals• Pollution/Litter• Tourists• Increased Population• Wildland Arson• Habitat Loss• Erosion/Run-off• Over-harvesting• Cultural Hunting
Guam Example
Threat (Factor) Ranking
Invasive Species HIGH
Feral/Nuisance Animals HIGH
Pollution/Litter MEDIUM
Tourists MEDIUM
Increased Population HIGH
Wildland Arson HIGH
Habitat Loss HIGH
Erosion/Run-off MEDIUM
Over-harvesting MEDIUM
Cultural Hunting MEDIUM
Can Your Organization Influence Identified Threats?
• Not always feasible to target most top-ranked threat
• Re-rank threats based on your organization’s ability to influence each one
Re-Rank Using 3 Criteria
Organizational ability – do you have the technical competence and/or resources?
Social practicality – what barriers need to be removed? How
difficult is it to remove them?
Political feasibility – how supportive is the local political environment?
Ability to Influence and Impact
Threat (Factor) Criteria TotalScore
Ranking
Organizational Ability
Social Practicali
ty
Political Feasibility
For each criteria, score your organization’s ability to influence and impact the threats using a five point scale:
0 = no ability1 = low2= Medium3 = High4= Very High
Guam Example
Threat (Factor) Ranking
Invasive Species HIGH
Feral/Nuisance Animals HIGH
Pollution/Litter HIGH
Tourists LOW
Increased Population LOW
Wildland Arson MEDIUM
Habitat Loss MEDIUM
Erosion/Run-off MEDIUM
Over-harvesting MEDIUM
Cultural Hunting MEDIUM
Further Considerations
• List your assumptions and any data gaps
• Involve key stakeholder groups• Have members of scientific
community reviewThreat Ranking andConcept Model
Creating Factor Chains
• Identify threat of highest priority based on rankings
• Isolate contributing factors• Pinpoint target audiences for
behavior change• Determine objectives for mitigating
threats
Guam’s Factor Chains
Project Scope: Guam’s Native
Wildlife & Habitats
Guam Rail
Guam’s Terrestr
ial Native Wildlife
& Habitats
Invasive Species
Lack of awareness
Educational outreach
Lifestyle choices
Feral/ Nuisance animals
Pollution/Litter
Sewage loads/spills
Chemical pollution
Smoke
Light cycle
Corruption in government
Legislative & legal directives
Greenhouse/gas emissions
Global warming
Weather events
Objective Themes
1. Promote the use of reporting tools of nuisance animals (invasive species and pests) in Guam
2. Protect the areas in which native species are found
3. Create areas for reintroductions of native species
4. Reduce the number of feral animals5. Eradication of nuisance animals,
specifically rodents
Management Options
Objective Theme #1
Promote the use of reporting tools of nuisance animals (invasive species and pests) on Guam.
Option 1 (Preferred)
Island-wide marketing campaign advertising reporting methods – TV, radio, and newspaper.
Option 2 Workshops with high risk groups: vendors to Cocos Island, Cocos Resort security guards & employees
Option 3 Civic presentations to Mayor’s Council, Rotary clubs, Chamber of Commerce etc., schools
Option 4 Outside advertising: billboards, posters, signs.
Management Options
Objective Theme #4
Reducing the number of feral animals.
Option 1 (Preferred)
Increase number of people who spay and neuter their pets.
Option 2 (Preferred)
Increase number of people who do not release unwanted pets into the wild.
Option 3 (Preferred)
Work with GAIN to publicize effects of feral animals on native wildlife.
Option 4 (Preferred)
Periodic catch and cull program.
Management Options
Objective Theme #5
Control of invasive and nuisance animals, especially brown treesnakes and rodents.
Option 1 Use rodenticides and traps to eradicate rodents in areas slated for conservation work.
Option 2 Increase community awareness on the effects of rodents on native wildlife.
Option 3 (Preferred)
Integrated species specific pest management plans for specific areas on Guam.
Option 4 Use bounty to call attention to nuisance species.
Final Consideration
• It is pointless to try to initiate behavior change if an alternate behavior is neither practical nor available.