21 Infant formula quality enhanced Vol 19 No 38, October 4, 2021
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A changing landscape Colin Williscroft colin.williscroft@globalhq.co.nz
T
ARARUA communities feel like change is happening to them rather than with them, according to a new report on the social effect of afforestation on the district. The Tararua District Council commissioned social scientist Dr Heather Collins, who was assisted by Angela McFetridge, to explore the impact of growing afforestation on communities. The research looks at what “right tree, right place” means for individuals, families, businesses and communities; perceived opportunities, challenges or concerns that afforestation can bring; and the relationship between afforestation and tourism. Those interviewed as part of the peer reviewed research included farmers, farm staff, foresters, iwi representatives, rural professionals, contractors, tourism operators and Tararua College Year 12 and 13 students, who provided views on what they thought the future might hold for them. In the report, Collins says while the discussion appears to be about which tree to plant where, it is more about land use change and what is considered to be effective land use. “The participants in this research are aware of and accept that land use change will occur in some form, but the pace of change, a perceived loss of control over the change and the unintended impacts of change are
of concern to the community. “Individuals and groups feel they are not part of these largescale decisions, their voices are not being heard, and they are not included in the changes that impact on their way of life and the lives of their families/whanau and their mokopuna.” Collins says there was a feeling among those people that change is happening to them rather than with them. “Traditional sheep and beef farmland being blanket planted in pine for carbon farming is a symbol of a change that the community feel they have neither input into nor control over.” The report identified three key roles for the council in the context of increasing afforestation: to take an active role in discussions around the development of central government afforestation policy and regulation; to help raise awareness about the ongoing social impacts of afforestation and in particular, increased fire risk; and to enable and support communities to build their capacity and capability to manage change and transition. Tararua Mayor Tracey Collis says Collins’ report is part of a wider council project to understand what land change could mean to the district. She says that is in the process of being finalised and will go to a council committee in October. “At the same time the council is working through a district strategy, which will answer some of the questions around what does Tararua look like in the future? “You have to remember the whole district is growing. We’re facing a lot of rapid change.” Collis says there had previously
LEFT OUT: Heather Collins says although people are aware land use will change, they feel their voices are not being heard when decisions are made.
There are so many elements currently coming at our communities. It’s a lot to cope with. Tracey Collis Tararua District Council been a lack of social research done into the effect of afforestation and it is important that gap is filled with research like Collins’ “because that’s where the
unintended consequences lie, in the communities”. “I thought Heather summed it up in her discussion and recommendations with her comments about unprecedented flux and change. “She talks about climate change, covid change, societal change, government change, policy change, community change, land use and practice change. “There are so many elements currently coming at our communities. It’s a lot to cope with.” Collis says part of the challenge is that the changes involve individual property rights, so
discussions will involve a lot of emotion. “People have made investments, taken risk and now the ground rules are changing in the blink of an eye. There is a complex series of issues, with owners able to diversify, address biodiversity or as an exit strategy in the absence of alternatives, such as a succession plan for retirement. The plan now is to hold followup sessions in the community to bring all the parties together to discuss the report’s findings. Those sessions will be held as soon as is practical and would have begun before now, but for covid restrictions.
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