Alien Species.vp - IUCN

Table 4 Neuro-Logical Levels at which the major guiding principles on invasive alien
species have been directed.
Neuro-Logical Level IUCN Guidelines CBD interim Guiding
Principles
Spirit
Identity
Beliefs 4 2 10
Capabilities 7 5
Behaviour
Environment
18 13 5
Education/Outreach
U.S.A. Guiding Principles
Staples (this volume) points out that environmental awareness is on the decline and that efforts
to educate the public about IAS have so far been inadequate. In most cultures, the “education
system” focuses on influencing people’s capabilities and behaviour. The same focus dominates
education/outreach messages and projects developed by the conservation community. To
effectively minimize the spread of IAS, we must “aim higher” with our education/outreach
programmes.
If people see themselves as gardeners (identity) with a flair for the exotic (belief-criteria),
you are unlikely get them to stop planting potentially IAS by suggesting they now plant only
native species (behaviour). If you can help gardeners see themselves as “someone who restores
the environment” (for example), they will be able to adopt capabilities and behaviours that
support the new definition of their identity.
Robert Dilts (pers. comm.) has identified categories of “change agents” with respect to the
Neuro-Logical Levels (Table 5). Educators and coaches are needed to communicate what IAS
are and how people can minimize the spread of IAS. However, knowing “how” and “what” are
not enough. We want people to take actions to minimize the spread of IAS. People must be
motivated to do what needs to be done in the way it needs to be done. Motivation is found at the
level of beliefs and higher. “Education/outreach programmes” that engage the full spectrum of
change agents will be the most effective.
Table 5 Type of agents needed to enable change at the various Neuro-Logical Levels.
Adapted from Dilts (1990), Dilts and Epstein (1995), and Dilts (pers. comm.).
Neuro-logical Level Reference Scope Type of Change Agent
Spirit For Whom or For What Transmission Awakener
Identity Who Mission, Purpose Sponsor
Beliefs Why Permission, Motivation Mentor
Capabilities How Direction Teacher, Educator
Behaviour What Action Coach
Environment Where, When Reaction Guide, Guardian
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Human dimensions of invasive alien species