Why use participatory
modelling?
Many Australian landscapes are undergoing
significant land use change from family run agricultural
enterprises to corporate run plantation forestry. These land use
changes are creating varying levels of controversy over the
sustainable use of natural resources, with many perceived social,
ecological and economic impacts on rural communities. Stage
One of this study used a survey of, and interviews with a diverse
range of stakeholders from the Upper Clarence catchment, in order
to explore their attitudes and perceptions regarding the expanding
hardwood timber industry, predominantly being planted for
structural timber by Managed Investment Scheme
corporations.
Participatory modelling is an exciting and
interactive community engagement strategy proven to achieve
improved community outcomes where used and evaluated in developing
countries. Prior research has found
that the use of participatory theory empowers local stakeholders to
work collaboratively through a structured learning process, thereby
encouraging the sharing of knowledge between groups and
individuals. Participatory processes have the potential to
lead to: better informed decision making; improved capacity for
Australian rural communities to undertake sustainable land use
planning; and improved economic prosperity. The extent to
which these potential benefits have been achieved will be evaluated
in Stage Two of this study.
Participatory
modelling can provide opportunities for participants to share
concerns through a process of scenario building which explores
system interactions and dynamics using ‘Simile’, a
computer simulation program. Participants work collaboratively
towards achieving community outcomes which could not have been done
effectively or fairly without participatory input from stakeholder
groups. This participatory modelling stage will be observed
and critiqued for its effectiveness as a tool in community
engagement for broader use in addressing natural resource
management issues in relation to land use controversy.
Features of the Upper
Clarence rural community
The area of the Upper Clarence
catchment is 51,183 hectares, of which 68% is considered forested.
The catchment is located within the Kyogle Local Government Area
(LGA), with the Clarence River flowing through it. The headwater of
the Clarence River is in the Tenterfield LGA. Mean annual
rainfall ranges from 1,076 mm at Urbenville to 1,222 mm at Tabulum.
Mean monthly temperatures range from an average maximum of 27.5
°C in January down to an average minimum of 5 °C in July.
The population of the Kyogle LGA was recorded at 9264 in 2006.
Fig 1: Location of Upper Clarence
catchment, northern NSW.
