Biosecurity risk and peri-urban landholders - using a stakeholder consultative approach to build a risk communication strategy

Abstract

This article presents a straightforward and highly participatory methodology for addressing government agencies' concerns with effective communication strategies for biosecurity when stakeholders are diverse and there is uncertainty about their levels of knowledge. The case study was among peri-urban landholders in an area where serious animal disease infestation has occurred within the last 10 years. Initially we engaged stakeholders in a consultative process that included establishing a stakeholder influence and interest map for both weeds and animal diseases. This was followed with a mental model approach involving surveys and in-depth interviews. We elicited information about landholders..