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Short abstract

Tipu and jacaranda trees have been introduced in 30+ cities worldwide, eliciting a wide range of opinions captured by media outlets. Using newspapers as source material, we invite participants to write their own news headlines as a way to (re)think communication strategies about invasive species.

Long abstract

The use of non-native species in urban arborisation is, to a higher or lesser extent, a controversial issue in different cities. Producing a visually striking combination of yellow and bright purple flowers, tipu and jacaranda trees have been introduced in tandem to streets and parks of more than 30 cities around the globe. Since the first introductions in the early 19th century, the presence of these trees has elicited a wide range of bio-cultural interactions, perceptions, and folklore. This variety of sentiments and opinions continues to be recorded through newspapers and other digital news outlets, thus enabling diachronic analyses at local, national, and even international scales. Based on a selection of 10 newspaper headlines from Argentina, Australia, Nepal, South Africa, and the United States of America, this workshop will focus on communication strategies about invasive species. First, a visual summary of the introduction history of tipu and jacaranda trees will be presented. Then, participants will be invited to write their own news headline about either or both tree species using a template containing photos and the space for text. During the creative process, participants will be able to browse through and draw inspiration from the international selection of newspapers. At the end, all participants will be invited to share their perceptions and experiences with the larger group and the panel of invasion ecology scholars.