We know a lot about the ecological impacts of invasive species. We also know a lot about the economic impacts of invasive species. We know very little about the impact that invasive species have on people, our wellbeing and our livelihoods. Should we not better understand all aspects of invasive species to comprehensively manage them.

Do invasive species affect people, our well-being or our livelihoods? The Cultural Impacts of Invasive Species Survey St. Lawrence Eastern Lake Ontario Partnership for Regional Invasive Species Management SLELO PRISM

The Survey Primary Question Do invasive species affect people, their well-being and livelihoods - if at all and if so, to what extent? Survey Definitions Well-being defined as (general happiness). Livelihood defined as (food on the table, money in your pocket or financial means)

A consistent introduction 44 questions 4 point response range Demographics Hunter Charter Captain Angler Fishing Guide Trail Guide Nature Guide Restauranteur Logger, Forster/Wood Products Benefactor Marina Owner/Operator Livery/Bait Shop Owner Recreationist Other (please explain) Most popular (other) respondents included: Agricultural producer/farmer Outdoor enthusiast Gardner The survey involved A consistent introduction 44 questions 4 point response range none at all a little a moderate amount a-lot A place for additional comments

Consistent introduction Definition of invasive species. Examples including terrestrial, aquatic, plants, animals, insects, etc. Known impacts of each example.

Qualtrics® via Cornell University Survey software Qualtrics® via Cornell University Human Subjects SOP Prevents us from collecting personal or identifying information including information about incomes. The survey produced 107 charts, tables and graphs along with 8 pages of additional comments. I’m only going to share a handful that I feel are most important.

12A - Overall, how much have invasive species frustrated you and affected your well-being or happiness? 8.37% 22.91% 35.22% 33.50% Overall invasive species affect the wellbeing of 92% of those surveyed.

12A - Overall, how much have invasive species frustrated you and affected your well-being or happiness? (top 3 groups affected) Agricultural Community

(food on the table, money in your pocket or financial means) 12B - Overall, how much have invasive species affected your livelihood,? (food on the table, money in your pocket or financial means) 8.82% 25.49% 23.04% 42.65% Overall invasive species affect the livelihoods of 74% of those surveyed

12B - Overall, how much have invasive species affected your livelihood? (top 3 groups affected)

This means they are concerned about this. 8A - With the increase of global trade and with travel around the world becoming easier and more available to everyone, there is great potential for new invasive species to be introduced. How much do you feel this would affect your well-being ? 6.36% 53% increase in people who say I.S. from global trade and travel would affect them a lot. This means they are concerned about this. 35.21% 25.67% 32.76% Overall, 93.6% of those surveyed show concern that introductions from global trade/travel would affect their well-being.

8A - With the increase of global trade and with travel around the world becoming easier and more available to everyone, there is the great potential for new invasive species to be introduced. How much do you feel this would affect your well-being or happiness? TI

8B - With the increase of global trade and with travel around the world becoming easier and more available to everyone, there is great potential for new invasive species to be introduced. How much do you feel this would affect your livelihood? 18.58% 22.74% 24.69% 33.99% Overall, 77.3% of those surveyed indicate that introductions from global trade/travel would affect their livelihood. TI

8B -With the increase of global trade and with travel around the world becoming easier and more available to everyone, there is great potential for new invasive species to be introduced. How much do you feel this would affect your livelihood? Also an increase that say a moderate amount TI

Current impact In the SLELO region of New York State over 92% of those surveyed indicate that invasive species currently affect their wellbeing (general happiness) and 74% state that invasive species currently have a negative affect on their livelihood (food on the table, money in their pockets or financial means). (Williams et al. 2017)

Global trade/travel perspective In the SLELO region of New York State over 94% of those surveyed indicate that new introductions of invasive species from global trade/travel would affect their wellbeing (general happiness) and 77% state that new introductions would affect their livelihood (food on the table, money in their pockets or financial means).

People are affected and they are concerned about the future

Actual comments from survey (selected from 8 pages of comments) “We don’t have a lot of money. Last weekend my husband and I both got a rash from some poisonous hog plant that we were removing from our yard. We don’t have health insurance and we had to pay a fortune to the doctors and for medicine, now we don’t have enough to buy food until next week”. (We are a young couple just starting out) “Because we live on the river, I will not use chemicals. Therefore I have to pull the invasives or pay someone to do it. The reduced fishing because of invasives has affected my family and guests”. (Homeowner) “The milfoil and curly weed are wrecking by business. I have 5 or 6 slips that no one will rent because of the weeds and this business is my livelihood”. (Marina Owner) “As a charter captain invasive species effect my business which is my income, no fish no income.” (Charter Captain)

Actual comments from survey (selected from 8 pages of comments) “As a consultant, invasive species have affected my financial means positively. I often get hired to help plan on how to characterize/control/manage them.” (Consultant)

Lessons Learned Public knowledge of invasive species was inconsistent among demographic groups. Public was often unaware of intrusion by invasives Outreach (getting people to take the survey) was often difficult.

Do invasive species affect people, their well being and their livelihoods? Yes! And they do so Right here in New York State (SLELO region) Thank you! Contact: Rob Williams rwilliams@tnc.org www.sleloinvasives.org Acknowledgements Timothy Ives, Cornell Cooperative Extension NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation SLELO PRISM Partners The Nature Conservancy, CWNY Conservation Team