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No country for possums: young people’s nativist views

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 April 2019

Rajesh Ram Open the ORCID record for Rajesh Ram [Opens in a new window]
Rajesh Ram*
Affiliation:
Faculty of Education and Social Work, School of Curriculum and Pedagogy, The University of Auckland, Auckland 1142, New Zealand
*
*Corresponding author. Email: rajesh.ram@auckland.ac.nz
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Abstract

The Australian brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula) is one of many animal species classified as alien under the biosecurity system in New Zealand. However, it is against the possums that a relentless campaign is perpetrated. This article attempts to explain some of the many reasons behind such intense negativity, and in doing so, show a link between the management of invasive species as a biosecurity risk and young people’s nativist views. A qualitative, interpretive mode of inquiry was used to analyse data that showed a link between the management of invasive species as a biosecurity risk and young people’s controversial views. An educational program that presents an objective view of invasive species is recommended.

Keywords

biosecurityenvironment educationinvasion ecologynativismxenophobia
Type
Feature Articles
Information
Australian Journal of Environmental Education , Volume 35 , Issue 1 , March 2019 , pp. 12 - 27
Copyright
© The Author(s) 2019 

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