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Iconic Species: biodiversity values in social landscapes
Conference presentation

Iconic Species: biodiversity values in social landscapes

Angela Wardell-Johnson
2012 University Research Conference Program Book, p.20
USC Research Conference, 2012 (Sunshine Coast, Australia, 09-Jul-2012–13-Jul-2012)
University of the Sunshine Coast
2012
url
https://www.usc.edu.au/View
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Abstract

Environmental Science and Management Sociology biodiversity social landscapes
Iconic species are frequently used as a means to focus society's attention in the conservation of ecological systems. Thus, the Geocrinia complex of frogs in the agriculturally diverse tourist region of south-western Australia forms a local focus to remind society of the consequences of certain land use practices. These species thus become iconic species within social contexts just as the better known Giant Panda has been used to represent the conservation focus of the World Wide Fund for Nature at a global scale. Landscapes are inhabited by diverse human, plant and animal populations, with dynamic and interactive processes across incommensurate social and ecological scales. The premise for this presentation is that the agencies and organisations with an interest in biodiversity and resource management planning in Australia use underdeveloped intellectual and theoretical scaffolding to integrate the social elements of biodiversity values. Decision-making thus reflects limited integration of processes and tools representing disparate social, ecological and economic knowledge systems. This research reflects a transdisciplinary approach aimed at providing an insight into the social values inherent to biodiversity conservation planning across Australia and wherever threatened species are found. The research outcomes contribute a better understanding of the interactive dynamics between knowledge, community and social value systems contributing to resilience in rural landscapes.

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