Identifying Acceptable Vegetation Change In High Country Landscapes: Introduction (1994)

by Diane J. Lucas

The study sought to develop a method for indentifying areas of agreement among stakeholders as to acceptable and unacceptable vegetation change in the high country.

The contentious issue of vegetation change in the high country has been explored through a case study survey. Accessing a wide array of stakeholders through a multi-round anonymous mail survey to minimise antagonism, participants were first invited to set the agenda by identifying past and expected vegetation change. To avoid the politics of place, a generic approach was taken. Based on land systems, images were generated and various vegetation change scenarios applied. Respondents judged these on their desirability, possibility, likelihood and sustainability. Very high agreement was identified.