Why integrating local communities’ perceptions and practices matters for invasive mammal management on islands

Among invasive alien species (IAS), introduced mammals on islands are widely perceived as major human-driven factors contributing to the expansion of species range, ecological disruptions, loss of biodiversity and associated cultural services, and leading to the decline of human well-being. However, many introduced mammals also provide significant benefits to local communities, especially when deliberately introduced as a food resource, livelihood support, or cultural symbol. This dual role creates tensions between conservation practitioners, who often promote eradication-based IAS management, and local populations, who may value these species, leading to persistent conflicts over management and broader biodiversity policies. In this paper, we argue that the dominant paradigm that promotes exotic mammal eradication to restore biodiversity on islands should be reframed within a sustainability science framework that explicitly integrates ecological, social, cultural, and economic dimensions. On islands, invasive mammals not only drive ecological changes but also transform human perceptions and cultural baselines: over time, these animals may come to be regarded as familiar, beneficial, or even native, thus reflecting shifting baseline processes. We advocate participatory and intercultural approaches that bridge Western ecological science and local knowledge systems to co-develop legitimate, context-sensitive, and equitable strategies. Recognizing diverse ecological and cultural baselines can move global IAS management beyond a strictly eradication-centered model toward approaches that conjointly support biodiversity, human well-being, and long-term sustainability, particularly in island socio-ecosystems.