Many alien plant species are introduced to urban areas to create, augment or restore ecosystem services (ES). However, many of these species spread beyond original plantings, sometimes causing negative effects on existing ES or creating novel ecosystem disservices (EDS). An understanding of the perceptions of urban residents regarding invasive alien plants (IAPs) and the ES and EDS they provide is needed for the effective prioritisation of IAP management efforts in cities. Using the city of Cape Town, South Africa as a case study, we conducted questionnaire-based surveys (online and face-to-face) to determine the perceptions of urban residents regarding IAPs and their capacity to provide ES and EDS.

Most urban residents perceive IAPs negatively (i.e. agreeing that they create EDS), but many recognise their importance in providing ES. Although most residents are not opposed to the management of IAPs, such actions are not perceived as a high priority relative to other environmental problems. Socio-demographic variables such as age, education, environmental awareness, and ethnicity shape urban residents' perceptions of IAPs. Older, more educated respondents were more likely to perceive IAPs negatively, while respondents with greater environmental awareness were aware of the benefits provided by IAPs. This study highlights the need to integrate public perceptions into the planning and management of IAPs and emphasises the importance of including ES assessments into the decision-making process, particularly in urban areas.

许多外来植物物种被引入市区，以创建，增强或恢复生态系统服务（ES）。但是，这些物种中有许多分布在原始种植区以外，有时会对现有的生态系统造成负面影响或造成新的生态系统损害（EDS）。需要了解城市居民对外来入侵植物（IAP）及其提供的ES和EDS的看法，才能有效地确定城市中IAP管理工作的优先级。我们以南非开普敦市为案例研究，进行了基于问卷的调查（在线和面对面），以确定城市居民对IAP及其提供ES和EDS的能力的看法。

大多数城市居民对IAP的看法是负面的（即同意他们创建EDS），但是许多人意识到他们在提供ES方面的重要性。尽管大多数居民不反对IAP的管理，但相对于其他环境问题，此类行动并未被视为高度优先事项。社会人口统计变量（例如年龄，教育程度，环境意识和种族）影响着城市居民对IAP的看法。受过良好教育的年龄较大的受访者对IAP的看法更可能为负面​​，而对环境的了解更高的受访者则意识到IAP的好处。这项研究强调了将公众的看法纳入IAP计划和管理的必要性，并强调了将ES评估纳入决策过程的重要性，特别是在城市地区。