A QUESTIONNAIRE-BASED INQUIRY TO IDENTIFY ROMANIAN CITIZENS’ PERCEPTIONS AND ATTITUDES TOWARDS THE KNOWLEDGE, PREVENTION AND CONTROL OF COMMON RAGWEED (Ambrosia artemisiifolia L.)

Abstract

The Romanian Senate has adopted in May 2023 a legislative proposal that obliges landowners to remove Ambrosia artemisiifolia L. (also known as the common ragweed) throughout the year, forcing local authorities to penalize those who do not eliminate this plant species. In this context, the present study aims to highlight the Romanian people’s perceptions and attitudes on “ambrozia”, given the fact that this invasive plant represents nowadays a real threat to environment and also to public health, its pollen causing allergic rhinitis. In order to analyze the citizen’s knowledge about the common ragweed, between February and June 2023, an online survey was launched. The anonymous questionnaire was filled out by 585 voluntary participants recruited online from all over the country. The mixed views about the importance of A. artemisiifolia are discussed herein. In addition, the Toolkit “STOP AMBROZIA” was created in April 2023 by Let’s Do It Romania - the partner of Faculty of Agriculture within USAMV of Bucharest - and currently this useful resource can be consulted and free downloaded accessing the Association’s website.