Motivations and challenges of volunteering for red squirrel conservation - Red Squirrels United: LIFE14 NAT/UK/000467 SciuriousLIFE

Red Squirrels United: LIFE14 NAT/UK/000467
                                 SciuriousLIFE

     Motivations and challenges of volunteering
            for red squirrel conservation
                  Mariella Marzano & Mike Dunn

1   24/09/2018

RSU/Sciuriosity
    A UK-wide partnership working together to secure the
    future of our red squirrels protecting nine main red
    squirrel populations
    Partnership of eight organisations led by The Wildlife
    Trusts
    Working across England, Northern Ireland and Wales
    Significant investment by EU LIFE and Heritage Lottery
    Fund of approximately £3 million
    Four year programme (2015 - 2019)

2    24/09/2018

Red and grey squirrel distribution in the British Isles in 1945 and 2010.
Copyright Craig Shuttleworth/RSST

Engagement through the project

    More than 400 community engagement events held
    reaching over 25,000 people
    206 volunteer trainings events held
    Four new volunteer groups set up
    More than 1,600 volunteer interactions
    Two annual knowledge fairs held attended by approx. 90-
    100 people each

4   24/09/2018

Knowledge & Attitudes Research
• Nationwide survey on public attitudes towards squirrel
  and their management (n = 3758) – publication
  Biological Conservation

• Interviews/focus groups in case study areas with
  volunteers (n = 50+), project staff (twice) and local
  landowners (n=21+)

• Short community survey around knowledge of local
  action and barriers to involvement (~134 to date)

   24/09/2018

Survey data – attitudes
Opportunities
• Red squirrels are highly valued and people want to
  see them. Generally support conservation
Challenges
• Red squirrels not everywhere so people like grey
  squirrels too
• Lack of knowledge of impacts and of conservation
  and management measures
• Social acceptability of control measures

6   24/09/2018

Values and Awareness

When is squirrel control acceptable?

…Lack of Awareness?

Q. I would need to
see evidence of
impact before
supporting any
management of
squirrels

Knowledge of a
relationship
between red and
grey squirrel
populations

   Support for grey squirrel control measures would likely increase with
           greater awareness of the species’ negative impacts

    24/09/2018

Control Methods
Non-lethal   Lethal

Contra-
ception

24/09/2018

Acceptability of Controls

                            *         *

   * Most commonly employed methods
24/09/2018

Determinants of Acceptability

 Acceptability is highest amongst...

 •   Males
 •   Older generations
 •   Those most closely connected to nature
 •   Those most knowledgeable about squirrels
 •   Those aware of local conservation/control

  Least                                            Most
accepting                                        accepting

      24/09/2018

Tell us about volunteering
     • What are your aspirations for red squirrel conservation in
       your area?
     • What do you see as the key challenges for red squirrel
       conservation in your area?
     • Why did you start volunteering? [we would like to document
       your story]
     • What keeps you motivated to volunteer?
     • What challenges do you face in your volunteering role?
     • How could your volunteering experience be improved?
     • What do you think about RSU/Sciuriosity?

13    24/09/2018

Roles & reactions
• More volunteers take part in administrative,
  engagement & monitoring roles.
• Fewer volunteers kill grey squirrels – moral
  dilemma/need confidence to defend actions..
     “I would have to see how I feel after the first one, ‘cause I don’t even like killing
       mice; I don’t like killing insects… it doesn’t sit well with me. But I think it’s a
           responsibility thing, you have to do it.” (Volunteer from Merseyside)

            “…I feel if I had done it wrong, I may not have continued doing it.”
                              (Volunteer from Northern Ireland)

• Interest in contraception and biological control

 “That is wonderful really, because that’s an animal feeding on another which is a
          very natural way of doing things.” (Volunteer from Merseyside)

14      24/09/2018

Motivations to volunteer
• Existing interest in wildlife e.g. linked to childhood memories and
  sense of place
• Strong desire to save an endangered species but proximity
  important (practical; sense of ownership)

 “Because it’s here on my doorstep, I feel I can look after stuff here. We
can see what we’re doing is working, because the red squirrel population
          is going up.” (Volunteer from Northern Ireland)

• Dislike of Non-Native Invasive Species – Grey squirrels =
  “bullies”, “tree rats”, “greedy”, “born killers”
• Social aspects…sense of community with like-minded people;
  physical and mental health and well-being
• Greater knowledge, education, feedback and
  respect

15   24/09/2018

Challenges
• Finding time…majority of volunteers are retirees
• Competing with other conservation objectives (birds,
  bats etc.)
• Group sustainability reliant on a committed core and
  charismatic leader. Risky but difficult to change
• Lack of funding and training opportunities
• Difficulties of landscape-scale collaboration…impedes
  access; frustrates eradication efforts
• Fear of public backlash from public/lack of support
  from conservation landowners?

16   24/09/2018

Challenges
                                        • Need to raise awareness
                                          and attract members
                                        • Negative reporting in
                                          media
                                        • Public attitudes –
                                          challenge or opportunity?

          “It’s a lot easier to get them involved in other species, like the
      hedgehogs, they are quite happy to do that because it doesn’t mean
     killing anything, but with the red squirrel thing, it means killing greys,
                and they are a lot less happy to get involved in that.”
                             (Volunteer from Merseyside)

   “On a personal basis I've told lots of people about what I'm doing, but
 I'm also a bit guarded because I've actually lost friends as a result… who
 don’t like the idea of grey squirrel control.” (Volunteer from Mid-Wales)
17     24/09/2018

Lessons learned so far
     1. Recognise that the ‘pest’ label is not absolute. Many wish to see
     greys, but perhaps this would change with greater awareness of
     impacts, or the promise of an influx of reds
     2. Substantial number of ‘don’t know’ responses from survey,
     representing a degree of apathy, uncertainty and people most easily
     swayed
     3. Commonly used methods aren’t particularly acceptable and are
     likely considered inhumane. Their use needs to be justified, and the
     myth of ‘lethal = inhumane’ disentangled

     4. Those exposed to conservation/controls are among the most
     accepting. We should be open about Sq. management, not secretive

     5. Community involvement and ownership is more powerful in
     changing beliefs than education alone. Knowledge and acceptance
     may spread with effective engagement

     6. There are a diverse range of volunteer roles but many are unaware
     of these different opportunities

18    24/09/2018

LIFE14 NAT/UK/000467 SciuriousLIFE

      Thank you

19   24/09/2018