423because of the role these species play in increasing the size, frequency, and intensity
of wildfi res. The research described in this chapter offers insights into how citizens
currently perceive exotic species management and also illuminates potential ave-
nues for enlisting the public more effectively in invasive species programs.
An initial conclusion one can draw from this research is that, while there is con-
tinued need for improved education and awareness, Americans do agree that a prob-
lem exists. The American public is concerned about invasive species—especially
in locations such as the Great Basin where the impacts of B. tectorum invasion pose
a particularly grave threat—but exotic invasion does not rise to the top of most
people’s lists of environmental threats. Accordingly, it may prove more diffi cult to
keep public attention focused on invasion risks without specifi c evidence of imme-
diate threats, as may be seen in the Great Basin, where Bromus -fueled wildfi res
provide vivid reminders of that threat each summer.
Surveys in the Southwestern USA found that people are concerned enough to
want to see authorities take more action against invasive species. They do not always
agree, however, on what action is appropriate. Many Americans are greatly con-
cerned about the use of herbicides—often the most effective tool in the invasive
plant management in terms of both cost and control effi cacy—and even those who
recognize the value of chemicals may have strong opinions about where those can
be used safely. A problem specifi c to exotic grasses is that some stakeholders, most
notably livestock operators, may see a benefi t to Bromus invasion because livestock
readily forage on B. tectorum and B. inermis under some con ditions.
Table 14.1 Subject matter covered in six modules of the EBIPM university curriculum
Module Content elements
1: Introduction to ecologically based
invasive plant management□ Traditional vs. ecologically based weed
management
□ Overview of EBIPM approach and framework
2: Assessment of ecological
conditions and processes in need
of repair□ Importance of rangeland health assessment (RHA)
in planning process
□ RHA protocol and underlying ecological concepts
□ Integration of RHA and successional weed
management
3: Identifying the underlying causes
of plant community change□ Overview of causes of succession/ecological
processes
□ How causes/processes infl uence invasion/ restoration
4: Ecological principles for invasive
plant management□ Principles provide a bridge between theory and
practice
□ Principles guide selection of tools and strategies
5: Tools and strategies: managing site
availability, species availability, and
species performance□ Prevention, control, and restoration strategies
□ Biological, chemical, mechanical, and cultural tools
□ Integration of tools and strategies
6: Adaptive management □ Managing complex problems in the face of
uncertainty
□ Management as an experiment: an eight-step
process14 Human Dimensions of Invasive Grasses