Climate changes and invasive plant species: raising the awareness of the public towards alien invasive plant species in the city of Belgrade

Abstract

Climate change and invasive plant species pose extraordinary ecological challenges to the world today. In addition, global warming enables invasive plants to spread more widely. Biological invasions are seen as a major threat to biodiversity on a global level, while the number of new invasions is increasing at an alarming rate. Raising the awareness of the public, the academic world and policy makers about the dangers caused by invasive species is essential for the creation of the support needed to implement and coordinate the policies necessary to address this problem. The aim of this study is to determine the level of local public awareness of the existence of these plant species, examine their attitudes towards alien invasive plant species and their willingness to get involved in the prevention of their spread. The survey was conducted in three nurseries and one garden centre in the territory of the city of Belgrade. The population that visits the nurseries and garden centre in order to buy plants were subjected to the survey method. The results show that the local public is uninformed on the issue of invasive plant species. It is necessary to constantly and intensively raise their awareness of this issue, as well as the awareness of the harmful consequences that may occur due to the uncontrolled spread of alien invasive species.