Paul de Burgh-Day
Given my fairly well developed paranoia, I was moved to ponder:
– how were the 3000 Tasmanians selected?
– are most of those sent the letter urban or country dwellers?
– what is the background of those conducting the survey?
– at whose behest is the survey being conducted?
An ABC news report recently was based upon a University of Melbourne press release . . .
It immediately set off the type of twitch I get when my cynicism meter goes off the scale . . .
Community views on plantation forestry to be measured in Tasmanian survey
To better understand what residents of Tasmania think about commercial plantations, the University of Melbourne and CRC for Forestry have mailed out a questionnaire this week.
Information gathered from the survey will help local and state governments, forest and agricultural industries to plan for the future.
Three thousand residents of Tasmania will be asked to share their views about commercial plantations.
The expansion of plantations has been a subject of debate in many rural communities, and this survey seeks to better understand how people perceive plantations and the reasons for these views.
“This survey will provide valuable information about the way Tasmanians really think and feel about changes in the landscape,” says lead researcher Dr Kathryn Williams.
“Public comment and media coverage can provide some insights into the ways people view plantation forestry. Decision makers also need systematic social research to help identify areas of concern and support for different land uses.”
Information gathered from the survey will help local and state governments, forest and agricultural industries, and NRM regions to plan for the future.
The results of the survey will be made available to the whole community to assist future decision making.
Households have been randomly selected to participate in the survey from districts across Tasmania.
“Every response is really very important,” says Dr Williams.
“We want to hear back from every resident surveyed, so we can be confident that we have a fair representation of community views and attitudes.”
The survey is part of a larger social research programme about plantation forestry and communities, which is conducted by the CRC for Forestry and research partners The University of Melbourne, Australian National University, The University of Tasmania, and Southern Cross University.
Research in Tasmania includes analysis of attitudes towards plantation forestry, social and economic costs and benefits of different types of commercial forestry, and effective strategies for community engagement.
Further information about this programme can be accessed online at:
http://www.crcforestry.com.au/research/programme-four/communities/index.html
More information:
Dr Kathryn Williams
Department of Resource Management and Geography, University of Melbourne
Phone: 0407 814 544
Taylor Bildstein, Communications Manager, CRC for Forestry.
Phone 03 6226 7967, mobile 0410 489 107.
Dr Nerissa Hannink, Media Officer, The University of Melbourne.
Phone 03 8344 8151, mobile 0430 588 055
Given my fairly well developed paranoia, I was moved to ponder:
– how were the 3000 Tasmanians selected?
– are most of those sent the letter urban or country dwellers?
– what is the background of those conducting the survey?
– at whose behest is the survey being conducted?
No doubt readers could add to this list.
I spoke to Dr Kathryn Williams about my first two questions. The selection is – surprise – random, so yes, the majority of responses will be from urban dwellers.
They expect about 1/3 will respond. It has occurred to me since that there might be a higher percentage of respondents from rural folks. I understood account would be taken of the urban/rural question. I may be wrong, but I figure the average citizen of Hobart – or Launceston – is not much aware of the facts and reality in the plantation issue.
I asked about making a submission – but no – that would introduce distinct bias.
I am inclined to write to the CRC anyway – at least to point out that more weight should be given to those who are most directly impacted by plantations.
I had some information sent to me by Barnaby – which consolidates my suspicions.
“Make your own judgement how unbiased this will be” commented Barnaby.
It appears that his information came from the link contained in the news release – so be sure to take a good look there.
From the media release, and from the CRC website you will find any contact information you will need. In fact it is interesting – and not a little disturbing – to look at the various elements of CRC’s on water, biodiversity, land use etc.
Research activity of the Communities project is co-ordinated by Jacki Schirmer, and research is conducted at:
+ Australian National University – led by Jacki Schirmer
+ University of Melbourne – led by Dr Kathryn Williams
+ University of Tasmania – led by Professor Frank Vanclay
+ Southern Cross University – led by Professor Jerry Vanclay
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Dr Kathryn Williams
Position: Senior Lecturer, Human Dimensions of Natural Resource Management
Location: Burnley Campus
Address: LFR, Burnley Campus, The University of Melbourne, 3010
Recent funded projects and consultancies
* Social acceptability of forest management options: Landscape level analysis
(ARC Linkage grant with Industry Partners Forestry Tasmania, Tasmanian Forest Practices Authority and Tourism Tasmania)
* Community attitudes towards plantation forestry – CRC Forestry funded project
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Prof Frank Vanclay
BSc(Hon) (Griffith), MSocSci (Qld), PhD (Wageningen)
Professorial Research Fellow in rural social research
Tasmanian Institute of Agricultural Research, University of Tasmania
Current research (specific projects)
* Improving community engagement processes in the forestry industry (CRC Forestry).
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Prof Jerry VANCLAY
BSc(For)(Hons)(ANU), BA(UQ), DipCompSc(UQ), MSc(Oxford), DScFor(UQ)
Current Appointment: HEAD OF SCHOOL
Organisational Unit: School of Environmental Science & Management
Jerry leads SCU’s research program in decision support systems for forest management (including growth modelling and yield prediction) and teaches the undergraduate subjects FOR00109 Forest Land Use and Management and FOR00110 Natural Resources Policy. His research interests focus on information systems and conflict resolution for forestry and land use management.
Paul de Burgh-Day
