Laying the groundwork for constructive discussions on introduced species

Debates over introduced species remain a persistent fault line in conservation biology. While some view them as major threats to biodiversity, others argue these concerns are overstated and advocate for more inclusive, pragmatic approaches to extinction prevention. These disagreements stem not only from empirical uncertainty but also from deep ontological and epistemological differences about ecosystem function and problem framing. Consequently, trust and communication have eroded, limiting scientific progress.

Adversarial collaboration, which facilitates structured cooperation between individuals with opposing views, offers a promising way to resolve empirical disputes. However, success requires groundwork to establish shared understanding, clarified values, and conditions for productive disagreement. We focus on constructive discussion as this precursor, a process enabling participants to articulate perspectives, surface assumptions, and explore differences without collapsing them.

To lay this foundation, we conducted semi-structured interviews with 16 stakeholders involved in introduced species research and management in Australia. Participants included researchers, land managers, hunters, policy advocates, and representatives from conservation and Indigenous communities across university, government, and non-government sectors. Interviews explored how introduced species are understood and acted upon; perceived successes and limitations of invasion biology; experiences shaping positionalities; and tensions around concepts such as nativeness and coevolution.

Thematic analysis revealed patterns in language, framing, and normative commitments. Stakeholders were receptive to engaging with divergent views and called for nuanced, mature conversations that embrace complexity rather than binary positions. While all agreed change is needed, interviews exposed deep ontological differences about what the issue is, underscoring the need for constructive dialogue addressing these fundamentals.

This groundwork will inform future facilitated workshops, bringing interviewees together for structured discussion and co-design of research questions. These workshops will initiate adversarial collaboration to rigorously interrogate contested empirical claims and advance inclusive, transparent, and trustworthy conservation science. Ultimately, the project seeks to foster adaptive, inclusive responses to introduced species and greater acceptance of novel ecosystems.