Building Capacity for Environmental Management: local knowledge and rehabilitation on the Gippsland Red Gum Plains

Abstract

Community-based natural resource management (CBNRM) continues to attract interest as a way of achieving social and environmental outcomes at the local and regional scale. Central to the success of CBNRM is the importance of capacity building and participatory approaches to research and management. This paper discusses an initiative in East Gippsland which involved a facilitated process to assist local residents build their capacity to manage their landscape. Through conducting a community survey, the project facilitated landholders to voice, develop and refine their understanding of remnant vegetation management, dieback and revegetation on private land. In doing so, landholders have improved not only their understanding of the issues but also their ability to act upon them. The empirical findings of the study highlight two issues of relevance to dieback on the East Gippsland Red Gum Plains. First, there is a perception that dieback has remained stable for at least 10 years. Second, scattered trees and small patches of trees are more vulnerable to dieback than clumped trees in larger patch sizes, as well as roadside vegetation. The research demonstrates the value of a community-based approach to NRM in terms of harnessing local knowledge, fostering human and social capital and engaging with interested landholders.

Keywords:

• Capacity building
• dieback
• remnant vegetation
• participation
• local knowledge
• citizen science

Acknowledgements

‘This research was supported by the Australian Landscape Trust. The author would like to thank Matt Colloff for contributing to survey development and Karin Hosking for technical assistance. Above all, the author would like to thank all the members of the Gippsland Plains Tree Health Group for their energy and enthusiasm.