Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Culture-production-place and nature: the landscapes of somewhere

  • Special Feature: Overview Article
  • Pathways towards sustainable landscapes
  • Published:
Sustainability Science Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The sustainability of local landscapes is subject to multiple interpretations of what it is to be ‘sustainable’, at what scale and in whose terms. In the face of global economic pressures for production, extraction and tourism, our attention is drawn to how we can re-imagine and conceptualise the local with a lens that integrates culture-production-place as integral within Nature, providing opportunities for a different view of what is possible. Using a critical system’s approach and incorporating diverse scales, human and non-human equity, and the tension inherent in multiple worldviews among stakeholders, we evaluate the narratives of three case studies. We focus on the social–ecological imaginaries that underpin attempts to create the ‘landscapes of somewhere’.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Alexander H (1995) A framework for change; the State of the Community Landcare Movement in Australia: National Landcare Facilitator Annual Report. National Landcare Program, Canberra

    Google Scholar 

  • Allison HE, Hobbs RJ (2004) Resilience, adaptive capacity, and the “lock-in trap” of the Western Australian agricultural region. Ecol Soc 9(1): 3 http://www.ecologyandsociety.org/vol9/iss1/art3/

  • Anderson B (2006/1983) Imagined communities: reflections on the origin and spread of nationalism. Verso, London

  • Australian Government (2007) Labour’s Reef Rescue Plan. Election 2007 Policy Document

  • Australian and Queensland Government (2003) The State of Queensland and Commonwealth of Australia Reef Water Quality Protection Plan for catchments adjacent to the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area. Queensland Department of Premier and Cabinet, Brisbane

    Google Scholar 

  • Beilin R (2002) Landcare. In: Aitken R, Looker M (eds) Oxford companion to Australian gardens. Oxford Press, Melbourne, p 353

    Google Scholar 

  • Beilin R, Sysak T, Hill S (2012) Farmers and perverse outcomes: the quest for food and energy security, emissions reduction and climate adaptation. Glob Environ Change 22:463–471

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Beilin R, Reichelt NT, King BJ, Long A, Cam S (2013a) Transition landscapes and social networks: examining on-ground community resilience and its implications for policy settings in multiscalar systems. Ecol Soc: 18(2) 30 http://dx.doi.org/10.5751/ES-05360-180230

  • Beilin R, Reichelt N, Sysak T (2013b) Resilience in the transition landscapes of the peri-urban: from ‘Where’ with ‘Whom’ to ‘What’? Urban Stud. doi:10.1177/0042098013505654

    Google Scholar 

  • Bohnet I (2008) Assessing retrospective and prospective landscape change through the development of social profiles of landholders: a tool for improving land use planning and policy formulation. Landsc Urban Plan 88:1–11

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bohnet IC (2010) Integrating social and ecological knowledge for planning sustainable land- and sea-scapes: experiences from the Great Barrier Reef region, Australia. Landsc Ecol 25:1201–1218

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bohnet I, Smith DM (2007) Planning future landscapes in the wet tropics of Australia: a social-ecological framework. Landsc Urban Plan 80:137–152

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bohnet IC, Roebeling P, Williams K, Holzworth D, van Grieken M, Pert P, Kroon F, Westcott D, Brodie J (2011) Landscapes toolkit: an integrated modelling framework to assist stakeholders in exploring options for sustainable landscape development. Landsc Ecol 26:1179–1198

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bohnet IC, Hill R, Turton SM, Bell R, Hilbert DW, Hinchley D, Pressey RL, Rainbird J, Standley P-M, Cvitanovic C, Crowley G, Curnock M, Dale A, Lyons P, Moran C, Pert PL (2013) Supporting Regional Natural Resource Management (NRM) Organisations to update their NRM plans for adaptation to climate change. In: Piantadosi J, Anderssen RS, Boland J (eds) MODSIM 2013, 20th International Congress on Modelling and Simulation. Modelling and Simulation Society of Australia and New Zealand, Adelaide, pp 2214–2220

    Google Scholar 

  • Brierley G, Fryirs K, Cullum C, Tadaki M, Huang HQ, Blue B (2013) Reading the landscape: integrating the theory and practice of geomorphology to develop place-based understandings of river systems. Prog Phys Geogr 37(5):601–621

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brodie J (2014) Dredging the Great Barrier Reef: use and misuse of science. Estuar Coast Shelf Sci 142:1–3

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brodie JE, Kroon FJ, Schaffelke B, Wolanski EC, Lewis SE, Devlin MJ, Bohnet IC, Bainbridge ZT, Waterhouse J, Davis AM (2012) Terrestrial pollutant runoff to the Great Barrier Reef: an update of issues, priorities and management responses. Mar Pollut Bull 65(4–9):81–100

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Campbell A (1992) Taking the long view in tough times—landcare in Australia: National Landcare Facilitator 3rd Annual Report. National Landcare Program, Canberra

    Google Scholar 

  • Campbell H (2009) The challenge of corporate environmentalism: social legitimacy, ecological feedbacks and the ‘food from somewhere’ regime. Agric Hum Values 26(4):309–319

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cleugh H, Stafford Smith M, Battaglia M, Graham P (eds) (2011) Climate change: science and solutions for Australia. CSIRO Publishing, Canberra

    Google Scholar 

  • CSIRO (2008) Water availability in the Goulburn-Broken. CSIRO Murray-Darling Basin Sustainable Yields Project—a report to the Australian Government. http://www.csiro.au/org/Goulburn-BrokenOverviewMDBSY#a2. Accessed Apr 2014

  • Department of Environment and Primary Industry (2013) G-MW Connections program, Victorian Government. http://www.depi.vic.gov.au/water/rural-water-and-irrigation/improving-irrigation-efficiency/g-mw-connections-project

  • Dovers S (1994) Still discovering Monaro: perceptions of landscape. In: Dovers S (ed) Australian Environmental History : essays and cases. Oxford University Press, Melbourne (Chapter 7)

    Google Scholar 

  • Dunlop M, Hilbert DW, Ferrier S, House A, Liedloff A, Prober SM, Smyth A, Martin T, Harwood T, Williams K, Fletcher C, Murphy H (2012) The Implications of climate change for Biodiversity Conservation and the National Reserve System. Report prepared for the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities, and the Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency. CSIRO Climate Adaptation Flagship, Canberra

  • Flannery T (1994) The future eaters: an ecological history of the Australasian lands and people. Grove Press, Melbourne

    Google Scholar 

  • Folke C (2006) Resilience: the emergence of a perspective for social-ecological systems analyses. Glob Environ Change 16:253–267. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2006.04.002

  • Foster JB, Clark B (2012) The planetary emergency: capitalism’s ultimate crisis. The monthly review. 64(7). http://monthlyreview.org/2012/12/01/the-planetary-emergency/. Accessed 18 May 2014

  • Garnaut R (2011) The Garnaut Review 2011: Australia in the global response to climate change. Cambridge University Press, Melbourne

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • GBCMA (2013) Farm water program, Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority, Fact Sheet, November 2013. http://www.gbcma.vic.gov.au/default.asp?ID=farm_water_program

  • Gilmour J, Beilin R, Sysak T (2011) Risk and peri-urban landholders—using a stakeholder consultative approach to build a risk communication strategy. J Risk Res 14(3):281–295

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hatt K (2012) Social attractors: a proposal to enhance ‘Resilience Thinking’ about the social. Soc Nat Resour Int J 26(1):30–43

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Higgins V, Lockie S (2002) Re-discovering the social: neo-liberalism and hybrid practices of governing in rural natural resource management. J Rural Stud 18(4):419–428

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Holling CS, Meffe GK (1996) Command and control and the pathology of natural resource management. Conserv Biol 10(2):328–337. http://dx.doi.org/10.1046/j.1523-1739.1996.10020328.x

  • Jackson T (2009) Prosperity without growth: economics for a finite planet. Earthscan, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Kiem AS (2013) Drought and water policy in Australia: challenges for the future illustrated by the issues associated with water trading and climate change adaptation in the Murray-Darling Basin. Global Environ Change DOI http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2013.09.006. Accessed Nov 2013

  • Kitney D (2013) ‘State push to be Asia food bowl’, Australian, The (Australia), 24 June, NewsBank, EBSCOhost, viewed 1 April 2014

  • Kroon FJ (2012) Towards ecologically relevant targets for river pollutant loads to the Great Barrier Reef. Mar Pollut Bull 65:261–266

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Law Council of Australia Ltd (2010) Introduction and Overview: draft position paper on constitutional recognition of Indigenous Australians. p15:#13. http://marcialangton.blogspot.com.au/2010/12/law-council-of-australia-draft-position.html. Accessed 20 Aug 2014

  • Lockie S (1994) Farmers and the state: local knowledge and self-help in rural environmental management. Reg J Soc Issues 28:24–38

    Google Scholar 

  • Massola J, Swan J, Ireland J, Wilkins G (2014) Cabinet rejects SPC Ardmona’s bid for $25 million assistance. The Sydney Morning Herald January 30. http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/cabinet-rejects-spc-ardmonas-bid-for-25-million-assistance-20140130-31p4e.html

  • McDonald G, Weston N (2004) Sustaining the wet tropics: a regional plan for natural resource management. Rainforest Corporate Research Centre and Far North Queensland Natural Resource Management Ltd, Cairns

    Google Scholar 

  • McMichael P (2009) A food regime genealogy. J Peasant Stud 36(1):139–169

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mitchell D (2000) Cultural geography: a critical introduction. Blackwell, Malden

    Google Scholar 

  • Næss A (1989) Ecology, community and lifestyle. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Plumwood V (2002) Environmental culture: the ecological crisis of reason. Taylor and Francis, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Productivity Commission (2003) Industries, land use and water quality in the Great Barrier Reef Catchment. Research Report. Commonwealth of Australia

  • Reid K (2009) Putting knowledge into place. The University of Melbourne. PhD Thesis

  • Robins L, Kanowski P (2011) ‘Crying for our country’: eight ways in which ‘caring for our country’ has undermined Australia’s regional model for natural resource management. Australas J Environ Manag 18(2):88–108

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Seghezzo L (2009) The five dimensions of sustainability. Environ Polit 18(4):539–556

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Simon K-H (2002) ‘Critical Systems Thinking’. Systems Science and Cybernetics. Vol II. ©Encyclopedia of Life Support Systems (EOLSS). Developed under the Auspices of the UNESO, Eolss Publishers, Paris, France. http://www.eolss.net/sample-chapters/c02/E6-46-02-08.pdf. Accessed Aug 2014

  • Smolin L (2014) Time reborn. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company, NY

    Google Scholar 

  • Stedman R (2003) Is it really just a social construction?: The contribution of the physical environment to sense of place. Soc Nat Resour 16:671–685

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sysak T (2013) Drought, power and change: using Bourdieu to explore resilience and networks in two northern Victoria farming communities. The University of Melbourne, PhD Thesis

  • Taylor C (2004) Modern social imaginaries. Duke University Press, Durham

    Google Scholar 

  • Turner FJ (1920) The frontier in American History. Henry Holt and Company, NY

    Google Scholar 

  • Victoria Dept of Water Supply, Meakin HW, Katz O, West J, Meade E, Deakin A, Murray S (1890) Victorian water supply: Fourth annual general report by the Secretary for Water Supply. Robt S Brain, Government Printer, Melbourne http://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/vufind/Record/65502. Accessed 18 Aug 2014

  • Victorian Government Department of Conservation and Environment (1992) LandCare Victoria: a summary. DCE, Melbourne

    Google Scholar 

  • Weekly Times (2013) Coalition Landcare Plan. April 17, 2013. http://www.greghunt.com.au/Home/LatestNews/tabid/133/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/2516/Coalition-Landcare-Plan.aspx. Accessed 20 Aug 2014

  • Whiteman G, Cooper WH (2011) Ecological sensemaking. Acad Manag J 54(5):889–911

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Williams R (1990/1984) Between country and city. In: Pugh S (ed) Reading landscape: country-city-capital. Manchester University Press, Manchester, pp.2–18

  • Wilson GA (2004) The Australian landcare movement: towards ‘post-productivist’ rural governance. J Rural Stud 20(4):461–484

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yusoff K, Gabrys J (2011) Climate change and the imagination. Wiley Interdiscip Rev Clim Change 2:516–534

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Landscape and Environmental Sociology, Faculty of Science, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia

    Ruth Beilin

  2. College of Marine and Environmental Sciences, Centre for Tropical Environmental and Sustainability Science, James Cook University, Cairns, Australia

    Iris C. Bohnet

  3. Institute of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Landscape Management, University of Freiburg, Tennenbacher Str. 4, 79106, Freiburg, Germany

    Iris C. Bohnet

Authors
  1. Ruth Beilin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Iris C. Bohnet
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ruth Beilin.

Additional information

Handled by Osamu Saito, UNU-Institute for the Advanced Study of Sustainability (IAS), Japan.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Beilin, R., Bohnet, I.C. Culture-production-place and nature: the landscapes of somewhere. Sustain Sci 10, 195–205 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11625-015-0289-5

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11625-015-0289-5

Keywords

Search

Navigation