Collaboration as a solution to wicked public policy problems: the example of regional environmental and natural resources policy in Australia. This project contributes to the water national priority by assessing two major national programs to improve Australia's land and water management through innovative collaboration models. It examines whether new collaborations between governments and NGO stakeholders, together with the creation of numerous regional bodies, are likely to achieve better outc ....Collaboration as a solution to wicked public policy problems: the example of regional environmental and natural resources policy in Australia. This project contributes to the water national priority by assessing two major national programs to improve Australia's land and water management through innovative collaboration models. It examines whether new collaborations between governments and NGO stakeholders, together with the creation of numerous regional bodies, are likely to achieve better outcomes than the previous regulatory models. The project will enhance public policy models through analysis of the strengths and limitations of the new program approach. Problems and prospects at the national, state and regional levels will be assessed including how different forms of collaboration are linked to effective and accountable institutional arrangements. Read moreRead less
Toward a political ecology of risk in river basin development: The case of the Mekong. This project is designed to examine the distribution and redistribution of risk associated with environmental change and large scale development interventions in the Mekong Region. The research aims to make a theoretical contribution to the rapidly emerging field of political ecology, by moving beyond an analysis of winners and losers based on certainty and post-facto impacts. The study will work toward an ana ....Toward a political ecology of risk in river basin development: The case of the Mekong. This project is designed to examine the distribution and redistribution of risk associated with environmental change and large scale development interventions in the Mekong Region. The research aims to make a theoretical contribution to the rapidly emerging field of political ecology, by moving beyond an analysis of winners and losers based on certainty and post-facto impacts. The study will work toward an analysis driven by the inherent uncertainties that underlie both the social construction and social distribution of environmental risk. The research also has important practical implications for environmental and social assessment methodologies in and beyond the case study region.Read moreRead less
From Productivism to Multifunctionality? Agri-environmental Governance in Australia and the United Kingdom. This project is concerned with the policy debate surrounding the governance of farming and natural resource management. It addresses the question of whether Australia can combine a liberalised economy with a shift from highly intensive, 'productivist' agriculture towards more sustainable land management and viable rural communities. The research will contribute to an understanding of the c ....From Productivism to Multifunctionality? Agri-environmental Governance in Australia and the United Kingdom. This project is concerned with the policy debate surrounding the governance of farming and natural resource management. It addresses the question of whether Australia can combine a liberalised economy with a shift from highly intensive, 'productivist' agriculture towards more sustainable land management and viable rural communities. The research will contribute to an understanding of the concept of 'multifunctionality', which has policy implications for agriculture, trade and international relations.Read moreRead less
Regulation and Governance of Agricultural Biotechnology: GMOs in Australia and the United Kingdom. Agricultural biotechnology has won Australian government support for its economic development potential but has associated ethical, consumer and environmental risks. The proposed research will contribute to the important task of successfully negotiating agricultural biotechnology futures through a comprehensive analysis of policy and regulatory structures, and stakeholder perceptions of impacts on ....Regulation and Governance of Agricultural Biotechnology: GMOs in Australia and the United Kingdom. Agricultural biotechnology has won Australian government support for its economic development potential but has associated ethical, consumer and environmental risks. The proposed research will contribute to the important task of successfully negotiating agricultural biotechnology futures through a comprehensive analysis of policy and regulatory structures, and stakeholder perceptions of impacts on environmental and economic sustainability. A comparison with the UK provides a valuable point of reference in evaluating policy and regulatory responses. Since the UK is a significant market for Australian produce, the outlook of UK consumers and the regulatory response of the government are highly relevant to Australian policy decisions.Read moreRead less
An Institutional Framework to Facilitate Sustainable and Integrated Natural, Cultural and Built Resources Governance. Effective management of natural and cultural resources for sustainability is an urgent national priority. The laws and policies governing land ownership and use are outdated, complex, disjointed and fail to provide coherent information to decision makers responsible for managing natural and cultural resources. This presents a significant barrier to ensuring sustainable developmen ....An Institutional Framework to Facilitate Sustainable and Integrated Natural, Cultural and Built Resources Governance. Effective management of natural and cultural resources for sustainability is an urgent national priority. The laws and policies governing land ownership and use are outdated, complex, disjointed and fail to provide coherent information to decision makers responsible for managing natural and cultural resources. This presents a significant barrier to ensuring sustainable development of resources jeopardising Australia's future environmental well being. This research aims to be the first to provide a legal and policy framework which integrates land ownership and principles of sustainable development to facilitate greater understanding and management of our environmental and social obligations for future generations. Read moreRead less
Institutional transitions to sustainable agriculture: An inter-disciplinary analysis of a novel common-property resource governance system. Efforts to overcome the severe degradation of land resources supporting agriculture and human communities continue to be constrained by institutions and social norms. The knowledge needed for a transition to sustainable agricultural landscapes through institutional change is inadequate. A collaboration between specialists in economics, politics, sociology, ....Institutional transitions to sustainable agriculture: An inter-disciplinary analysis of a novel common-property resource governance system. Efforts to overcome the severe degradation of land resources supporting agriculture and human communities continue to be constrained by institutions and social norms. The knowledge needed for a transition to sustainable agricultural landscapes through institutional change is inadequate. A collaboration between specialists in economics, politics, sociology, ecology and soil science at the University of New England and graziers in an upper Murray-Darling subcatchment will analyse the transition to a common-property institution on this subcatchment. It will make a distinctively Australian contribution to international efforts to understand such transitions, and serve as a model for progress towards sustainability elsewhere in Australia.
Read moreRead less
Towards Sustainable Regional Institutions: The Nature, Role and Governance Implications of Contemporary Australian Regionalism. This project is the first-ever national description of Australian regionalism, using insights from political and social science, constitutional theory and public administration. Built on successful pilots, this research will equip government, civil society, development agencies and regional policymakers with a region-by-region picture of the links between spatial varia ....Towards Sustainable Regional Institutions: The Nature, Role and Governance Implications of Contemporary Australian Regionalism. This project is the first-ever national description of Australian regionalism, using insights from political and social science, constitutional theory and public administration. Built on successful pilots, this research will equip government, civil society, development agencies and regional policymakers with a region-by-region picture of the links between spatial variations in political culture, civic trust, social capital and challenges of regional institutional design. This new picture of Australian regional attitudes, expectations and possibilities will contribute directly to national environmental sustainability, sustainable urban and regional development, revitalised regional communities and a stronger social and economic fabric.Read moreRead less
How can communities sustainably manage coral reefs? This project is relevant to the National Research Priority: An Environmentally Sustainable Australia. Key outcomes will include:
- a better understanding the most effective co-management arrangements for coral reefs;
- an evaluation of whether Australia's co-management models have the design principles associated with long-term success; and
- new insights into the socioeconomic environments under which co-management may be an effecti ....How can communities sustainably manage coral reefs? This project is relevant to the National Research Priority: An Environmentally Sustainable Australia. Key outcomes will include:
- a better understanding the most effective co-management arrangements for coral reefs;
- an evaluation of whether Australia's co-management models have the design principles associated with long-term success; and
- new insights into the socioeconomic environments under which co-management may be an effective management option.
These outcomes will promote the sustainable use of Australia's biodiversity by strengthening the capacity of co-management institutions. This project will also promote Australia's research capacity by providing research funds for one PhD student and one Honours student.
Read moreRead less
Improving our understanding of the effects of low carbon policies on the Australian economy and regions. Climate change mitigation policies at a national, and also at rural and regional level, is being demanded. Accurate, unbiased, and open debate with clear assumptions is critical. Greater student interest and expertise in the analytical skills is vital. More than one national model must be used and new models must incorporate more detailed data, especially on the interaction between the econo ....Improving our understanding of the effects of low carbon policies on the Australian economy and regions. Climate change mitigation policies at a national, and also at rural and regional level, is being demanded. Accurate, unbiased, and open debate with clear assumptions is critical. Greater student interest and expertise in the analytical skills is vital. More than one national model must be used and new models must incorporate more detailed data, especially on the interaction between the economy and the environment. Unfortunately, Australia has fallen behind other developed countries in building this capacity.Read moreRead less
Island Communities, Island Rhetoric: Sustainable Development and the Global Promise? The challenge to integrate economic development, social equity and environmental care intensifies on small islands. This research focuses on Tasmania, peripheral island state of Australia, sometimes typified as ?regional basket-case?. The aim is to examine how Tasmanians understand and accommodate the paradoxes of sustainable development (demanding new forms of ecological citizenship) and globalisation (based on ....Island Communities, Island Rhetoric: Sustainable Development and the Global Promise? The challenge to integrate economic development, social equity and environmental care intensifies on small islands. This research focuses on Tasmania, peripheral island state of Australia, sometimes typified as ?regional basket-case?. The aim is to examine how Tasmanians understand and accommodate the paradoxes of sustainable development (demanding new forms of ecological citizenship) and globalisation (based on conservative consumer-citizenship). Both deeply influence core government policy as well as formal and informal institutional life and language. Drawing on cultural geography and political ecology, the research will enhance theory and policy discussions about island regions, local communities and governance, sustainability and social change.Read moreRead less