74 participants responded to Q16. Most (54/74, 73%) respondents felt that the federal government should be responsible for the preventions of introductions. 19/54 chose The federal government alone, 27/54 also felt that the state government should regulate invasive plants (see Table Q16 to see the cross-over between this option and all of the others).

Of the 8 respondents who chose “no one, individual nurseries should use their own judgment”, 4 also chose another option (trade organizations, federal government, or state government). This may seem to reveal some inconsistencies in the respondents’ opinions, however it also may illustrate the weaknesses of the question. Some respondents may have felt that absolutely no one should prevent invasive plants from entering the country. The respondent who said that “Man is part of nature and the natural world wide distribution of plants. Some are invasive. Just as no one stops the birds, no one should stop man,” in response to Q10 (the effect of invasive plants and the efforts to control them) clearly felt that absolutely no one should regulate this problem (though this respondent felt screening and avoiding planting near natural areas was important in Q15 and had a strong environmental priority in Q14). Others agreed with the statement that “individual nurseries should use their own judgment” and also felt that other parties should also help prevent invasions.

Of those 7 who chose “other”, one suggested “plant collectors, arboretum etc”, one said that education was the best way to prevent invasions, one said “individual plant collectors”, two wanted a combination of the options working together, and two simply checked the option “other” and did not comment.