Assessment of the Motivation for Participation in Citizen Science Initiatives for Invasive Alien Species in Bulgaria

The article presents an analysis of the motivation for participating in Citizen Science (CS) initiatives for invasive alien species (IAS) of professionals involved in the management and use of biological resources and general public. The motivation of the interviewees was assessed through a questionnaire containing questions about: Level of awareness of the existing opportunities for CS initiatives related to biodiversity in Bulgaria; Experience in initiatives for monitoring or registration of plants and animals; Reasons that would motivate or disappoint the respondents to participate in the CS; The most appropriate way for respondents to participate in CS initiatives, as well as the most appropriate form of raising their awareness of IAS. The results indicate that the main reasons for the failure to participate in CS initiatives was the lack of accessible information on the problems posed by the IAS and tools and initiatives for the IAS CS in Bulgaria. Possible measures and policies for involvement of various stakeholders in the IAS SC initiatives in Bulgaria are discussed.