Project B - Survey & Interview Questions

OMB Control Number: 1028-NEW

Expiration Date: XX/XX/XXXX

Potential survey questions for Pacific RISCC - Paperwork Reduction Act

Pacific Regional Invasive Species and Climate Change Management Network (Pacific RISCC)

Updated 9/20/24

The following are survey questions that have been used in the past by Pacific RISCC partners to gauge 1) how Pacific RISCC can best meet the needs of the network, 2) how to improve upon Pacific RISCC events, and 3) how to tailor future Pacific RISCC events to the specific needs of jurisdictions in the U.S. Pacific including Hawaii and the U.S. Affiliated Pacific Islands. These questions will be drawn from to create future Pacific RISCC surveys. We may swap out particular words within questions that were only relevant to a workshop (e.g., Extreme climatic events) and replace them with words that best describe the purpose of future workshops (e.g., wildfire, sleeper species, range-shifting species, etc.).

• Put brackets around topics that are specific - that we might sub out

• Instructions for the interviewer -

Potential Pre-Workshop Survey Questions:

1. Where do you work? (Island AND Program/Organization name, please separate by a COMMA ",")

2. What are the primary responsibilities of your role?

1. Natural resource management/manager

2. Natural resource management/researcher

3. Natural resource management/data management

4. Field staff

5. Academia/Researcher

6. Other

3. What are the most notable impacts from [Extreme Climate Events (ECEs)] to the restoration/conservation program you work with (short answer)?

4. What are some surprising or unexpected impacts from [ECEs] that you have experienced?

5. What [ECEs] are you most concerned about? Choose all that apply.

1. Storms

2. Floods

3. Wildfires

4. Drought

5. Heatwaves

6. Other

6. How prepared do you feel to deal with the [ECEs] you indicated in the question above (short answer)?

7. What information or tools would help you prepare for and/or respond to future [ECE] (short answer)?

8. What forum outcomes/products would you be most interested in? Choose all that apply:

1. Write-up of discussion notes

2. List of case studies or examples

3. Gaps in knowledge/recommendations for future research

4. Recommendations and suggestions for disturbance-ready restoration practices in Hawaii

9. Are you planning on attending this discussion forum (multiple choice):

1. Yes

2. No

3. Not Sure

4. Other

10. BEFORE an [extreme climate event (ECE)] happens, what actions would help protect the ecosystem you work in from [ECE] effects? (short answer)?

11. AFTER an [ECE] happens, what actions would help ecosystems recover from [ECE] effects?

12. Thinking about the pre- and post- [ECE] actions you described above, what barriers prevent these actions from happening (short answer)?

13. In your experience, what planning or restoration actions have you found are NOT useful in addressing [ECE] preparation/response (short answer)?

14. Is there anything else that you were hoping to share that was not addressed by the survey questions (short answer).

15. Please provide your name and email if you would like us to contact you about your answers (short answer).

Potential Post-Workshop Survey Questions:

1. The Pacific RISCC Workshop group that you attended was (multiple choice):

1. [Climate Adaptation for Invasive Species Professionals]

2. [Extreme Climatic Events]

3. [Disturbance-Ready Restoration Workshop]

4. [Climate Fueled-Disasters in the Pacific Forum]

5. [Climate Change and Invasive Species Capacity Scanning for Jurisdictions Workshop]

2. The Pacific RISCC Workshop at HCC was useful for my work (multiple choice):

1. 1 = strongly disagree

2. 2 = disagree

3. 3 = neutral, not applicable, or don't know

4. 4 = agree

5. 5 = strongly agree

3. The amount of time for the workshop (1 hour for presentations, 1 hour for group discussion) was (multiple choice):

1. Perfect

2. Too much time

3. Too little time

4. A half-day workshop would be better

5. A full-day (or multi-day workshop would be better)

6. Other

4. As a result of the workshop, I am more familiar with [scenario planning] as a tool for dealing with uncertainty (multiple choice)

1. 1 = strongly disagree

2. 2 = disagree

3. 3 = neutral, not applicable, or don't know

4. 4 = agree

5. 5 = strongly agree

5. As a result of the workshop, I am more familiar with [climate change scenarios] and how to use them for [scenario planning] (multiple choice)?

1. 1 = strongly disagree

2. 2 = disagree

3. 3 = neutral, not applicable, or don't know

4. 4 = agree

5. 5 = strongly agree

6. Do you feel you can apply this tool [(scenario planning)] to your own project now that you have gone through this training (short answer)?

7. If Pacific RISCC hosted a longer (half or full) day workshop on this topic, would you be interested in attending? (short answer)

8. If you are a resource manager, would you be interested in a facilitated [scenario planning] workshop specifically tailored for your team and place (multiple choice)?

1. Yes

2. No

3. Maybe/Not Sure

4. Other

9. Were there aspects of the workshop that you particularly enjoyed (short answer)?

10. Do you have any feedback on what we can do better in future workshops (short answer)?

Potential Post-Webinar Survey Questions:

1. How many Pacific RISCC webinars have you watched (live or recorded) since 2022?

1. 0

2. 1

3. 2-4

4. 5-8

5. More than 8

2. I mostly watch Pacific RISCC webinars

   1. Live

   2. Recorded

   3. I do not watch Pacific RISCC webinars

3. The webinar that has been most impactful for my work is (short answer):

4. What topics would you like to see presented in future Pacific RISCC webinars (short answer)?

5. Are there any speakers you'd like to present at a future Pacific RISCC webinar? Please enter full names and contact email (short answer).

6. Are there any topics you would like to see addressed at a future Pacific RISCC webinar (short answer)?

7. What topics are you interested in reading about in future Pacific RISCC manager research summaries (short answer)?

8. Do you have a research article, report, or tool you'd like Pacific RISCC to review in a future Pacific RISCC manager research summary? Please include the citation or link to the article, report, or tool (short answer).

9. Any other comments about Pacific RISCC webinars or manager research summaries (short answer)?

10. Optional: Write your name and email address below if you would like us to follow up with you about your response (short answer).

Potential Listserv Survey Questions:

1. What do you find most useful from the Pacific RISCC Listserv (rank 1-6):

1. Pacific RISCC webinar series

2. Pacific RISCC research summaries for managers

3. Pacific RISCC workshop announcements

4. Job/Position opening announcements

5. News articles

6. Upcoming events of interest

2. What would you like to see Pacific RISCC offer more of:

1. Webinars

2. Workshops

3. Research Summaries

4. Review articles

5. Tools

6. Position announcements

7. Upcoming Events

8. Other

3. The number of emails distributed through the Pacific RISCC Listserv is:

1. Not enough

2. Just about right

3. Too Many

4. No opinion/Does not matter

4. The preferred format of Pacific RISCC events (workshops, symposia, training, forums) is:

   1. Virtual

   2. In-Person

   3. Hybrid

5. Ideas I have for future Pacific RISCC events (workshops, symposia, trainings, forums, field trips, etc.), are (short answer):

6. What I want to know most about regarding the intersection of climate change and invasive species in the Pacific region is (short answer):

7. What I think is the biggest issue at the nexus of climate change and invasive species in the Pacific is:

1. [Range-shifting invasive species and hotspots]

2. [Changes in extreme climatic events (storms, drought, wildfire, heatwaves, floods)]

3. [Sleeper Species]

4. [New pathways of introduction]

5. [Biocontrol efficacy]

6. [Changing impacts]

7. [Resilience of native communities]

8. [Wet and dry season changes]

8. Pacific RISCC should focus its efforts on helping (please rank):

1. Invasive species practitioners

2. Resource managers

3. Decision makers

4. Policy makers

5. Emergency/disaster responders

6. Climate change practitioners

7. Community members

8. Other

9. Please let us know if you have any additional thoughts on how Pacific RISCC can improve its offerings (short answer).

Potential Virtual Symposium Survey Questions (offered during the symposium):

1. Where are you from (short answer)?

2. What organization do you work for (multiple choice)?

1. Academia

2. National/Federal Government

3. State/Territorial Government

4. Nonprofit/NGO

5. Private/Corporate

6. Other

3. Are you primarily a (multiple choice):

1. Manager/Practitioner

2. Researcher/Scientist

4. Which taxa do you primarily work with (multiple choice)?

1. Terrestrial plants

2. Freshwater plants

3. Vertebrates

4. Invertebrates

5. Aquatic

6. Marine

7. Other

8. Multiple

5. How much of your time spent with invasive species (multiple choice)…

1. Is only focused on current issues?

2. Is Only focused on future/emerging issues?

6. What is your preferred term?

1. Non-native species

2. Alien species

3. Non-indigenous species

4. Other

7. What criteria do you feel is important for including in the definition of [invasive species]? Please rank

1. Impact criterion (negative impacts should be included to be considered an invasive species.

2. Geographic criterion (species must move outside their historical ranges to be considered invasive species).

3. Direct Anthropogenic criterion (humans must directly move them, e.g., human assisted-transport).

4. Indirect Anthropogenic criterion (humans can indirectly move them as range-shifts can occur due to things like climate change, pollution, land use, etc.).

8. What current invasive species are you most concerned about (short answer)?

9. What future invasive species are you most concerned about (short answer)?

10. Do you incorporate climate change into your invasive species work (multiple choice)?

1. Yes

2. No

3. Less than I’d like

11. What limits success in managing invasive species (rank)?

1. Information Access/Availability

2. Funding/Personnel

12. What limits success in managing invasive species in the face of climate change (rank)?

3. Information Access/Availability

4. Funding/Personnel

13. Management has been (fill in the blank) with invasive species (multiple choice)

1. Severely losing ground

2. Losing ground

3. Neigher losing, nor gaining ground

4. Gaining ground

5. Significantly gaining ground

14. This work is so hard, what keeps you going (short answer)?

Potential Pacific RISCC Interview Questions:

1. What is your name, title, and position?

2. Describe your work with invasive species, climate change, or both

3. What do you see as being the most significant challenges in invasive species prevention and management in your region?

4. What do you see as being the most significant challenges in adapting to climate change in your region?

5. How do you prioritize invasive species in your region for prevention or management?

6. What do you think are the largest impacts climate change is having or may have on invasive species prevention or management?

7. What solutions do you think are most important for addressing the challenges associated with invasive species prevention and management in your region?

8. Do you have any success stories you would like to share regarding invasive species prevention, management, control, or eradication?

9. What do you think should be the primary or key activities of Pacific RISCC?

10. What do you think Pacific RISCC is doing well? What can be improved?

11. Is existing information on climate change and invasive species sufficient in your region or are there information needs?

12. How do you think we can achieve better collaboration between sectors for preventing and managing invasive species?

13. What data or tools do you think are necessary for effective decision making regarding invasive species and climate change?

14. What additional training or capacity is required in your region for dealing effectively with invasive species in a changing climate?

15. What research gaps do you see as needing to be filled at the nexus of climate change and invasive species?

16. What communication methods do you think will best convey the needs and findings of Pacific RISCC to a wider audience?

17. Anything else you would like to share that we did not cover?

Pacific RISCC Interview Guide

Introduction:

Thank you for taking the time to meet with me today. My name is [Elliott Parsons/Pacific RISCC member], and [I’m a specialist working with the Pacific Regional Invasive Species and Climate Change Management Network (referred to as Pacific RISCC), working through the Pacific Islands Climate Adaptation Science Center (PI-CASC) at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa.] This project is to better understand the invasive species and climate change needs of Hawaiʻi and the U.S. Affiliated Pacific Islands including the U.S. territories of Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the Freely Associated nations which include the Republic of Palau, the Federated States of Micronesia, and the Republic of the Marshall Islands.

My overall goal is to understand how Pacific RISCC can better serve the diverse needs of the Pacific region and I really appreciate getting your perspectives. We will use information from these interviews, in combination with survey data (which you may have completed earlier), and project reports and other products to assess the current goals, objectives, and activities of Pacific RISCC so that we can update these to better tailor our activities to the region. Response details will be kept anonymous and compiled into broader findings that may be communicated to our team and various partners through reports, presentations, and publications.

Purpose:

While some of the earlier survey questions also addressed project goals, objectives, and activities, this interview serves as an opportunity for us to converse more freely and deeply about these topics to fill in some important gaps. During this interview I will be asking about you professional experiences at the intersection of climate change and invasive species and what you think are the most significant challenges that your jurisdiction faces as well as what you think are the most effective ways of addressing invasive species in a changing climate. The insights we gain from this interview will be invaluable to improving the products and initiatives offered by Pacific RISCC.

Logistics:

[Verify which jurisdiction the interviewee is from, and where their primary work location is]

Please note that this interview is expected to take approximately 30-45 minutes. Your participation is completely voluntary, and you are free to refrain from answering any question or withdraw at any time.

In order to better review our discussion and compile results later, it would be helpful if I could record the audio from this meeting. Is that okay with you? Do you have any other questions or concerns before we begin?

I. Role & Experience

1. What is your name, position/title, and affiliation and where do you do most of your work in the Pacific?

o Probe: How long have you worked in that capacity?

2. Describe your work with invasive species, climate change, or both

o Probe: Do you have any experiences with particular invasive species or climate impacts you want to share?

II. Views on invasive species challenges & successes

1. What do you see as being the most significant challenges in invasive species prevention and management in your region?

o Probe: who do those challenges affect the most?

2. What do you see as being the most significant challenges in adapting to climate change in your region?

o Probe: Who faces the highest burden if climate change impacts are not effectively addressed?

3. How do you prioritize invasive species in your region for prevention or management?

o Probe: Do other agencies or organizations prioritize invasive species differently?

o Probe: If there are differences, how do they get resolved?

4. What solutions do you think are most important for addressing the challenges associated with invasive species prevention and management in your region?

o Probe: Who is in charge of implementing these solutions?

o Probe: Do other agencies or organizations have different solutions they are pursuing, and if there are differences, how do they get resolved?

5. Do you have any success stories you would like to share regarding invasive species prevention, management, control, or eradication?

o Probe: How are these success stories shared?

6. How do you think we can achieve better collaboration between sectors for preventing and managing invasive species?

o Probe: Which agencies/organizations are most important in this role (i.e., preventing, managing, and controlling invasive species)? Are they effective? If no, why not?

III. Views on climate change and invasive species

1. What do you think are the largest impacts climate change is having or may have on invasive species prevention or management?

o Probe: Have you seen the invasiveness of any species grow worse over the last few years?

2. Is existing information on climate change and invasive species sufficient in your region or are there information needs?

o Probe: What information do you find most useful?

o Probe: How is this information used in decision making?

3. What data or tools do you think are necessary for effective decision making regarding invasive species and climate change?

o Probe: Who uses the data to make decisions?

o Probe: Do you know of any decisions regarding invasive species that were influenced by climate change?

IV. Pacific RISCC goals and activities

1. What do you think Pacific RISCC is doing well?

o Probe: What can be improved?

2. What additional training or capacity is required in your region for dealing effectively with invasive species in a changing climate?

o Probe: How may increasing capacity alleviate invasive species issues?

3. What research gaps do you see as needing to be filled at the nexus of climate change and invasive species?

o Probe: If you had $10 million U.S. dollars to answer definitively 1 research question, what would it be?

4. What communication methods in your jurisdiction do you think will best convey the needs and findings of Pacific RISCC to a wider audience?

o Probe: what % effort of Pacific RISCC would you allocate to the following (webinars, research summaries, workshops, in-person meetings, original research, other)?

5. What do you think should be the primary goals of Pacific RISCC?

o Probe: If you had to pick 1 goal as being the most important, which one is it?

6. What do you think should be key activities of Pacific RISCC?

o Probe: If you had to pick 1 activity as being the most important, which one is it?

VI. Wrap Up

1. Is there anything else you would like to share that we did not cover?

2. Do you have any questions for me?

Thank you!

Paperwork Reduction Act Statement: We are collecting this information subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.). Your response is voluntary, and we will not share your response publicly. We may not conduct, or sponsor and you are not required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB Control Number. OMB has reviewed and approved this poll and assigned OMB Control Number 1028-NEW. 

Estimated Burden Statement: We estimate responses will average 10 minutes per response, including time to read instructions and gather information. You may submit comments on any aspect of this information collection to the Bureau Information Collection Clearance Officer, US Geological Survey, 12201 Sunrise Valley Drive MS 159, Reston, VA 20192, or via email at [email protected].