Stewardship among lifestyle oriented rural landowners

Abstract

Changes in landownership associated with amenity migration are affecting the demographic, cadastral and ecological conditions of rural landscapes. These changes and concerns about their impacts on natural resource management, including ecological conservation, relate to both the structural consequences of landownership change, land subdivision and to the motivations, management ability and attitudes of lifestyle oriented rural landowners. Based on an Australian case study near Sydney, NSW, this paper examines the motivations and practices of such landowners, assesses potential consequences for vegetation and characterises the landowners according to three stewardship types.

Keywords:

• amenity migration
• hobby farming
• natural resource management
• restoration ecology
• stewardship
• ecosystem fragmentation

Acknowledgements

This research was funded by the small grants scheme at the University of Wollongong, the Southern Rivers Catchment Management Authority, and the Colgate University Research Council.