Landcare in the balance: 'Wherefore art thou 'Landcareman'?'
Stewart Lockie
Professor of Sociology, Research School of Social Sciences, Australian National University, Canberra
PP: 048 - 049
Abstract
Regardless of one's personal views on particular outcomes from the National Landcare Conference, such forums offer a fascinating insight into the emerging discourse of Landcare. The term 'Landcare' itself may have only begun to enter our lexicon in the mid-1980s, but at the halfway point of the Federally sponsored Decade of Landcare it is clear that the discourse of Landcare, along with all its associated meanings, cultural patterns and social relations, is becoming a powerful force in the reproduction and transformation of rural society.
From the establishment of Federal Government policy, through to the activities of supposedly autonomous individuals and community groups, Landcare is very much on the agenda. Though Landcare is no easier to define than it was two years ago, more and more diverse people and organisations are seeking to identify themselves with the 'Landcare movement'. In this article I will outline some of the ways that various groups are attempting to influence the Landcare discourse, and in doing so, attempting to exert some influence of my own.
Keywords
Landcare
References
Diani M (1992) The concept of social movement. The Sociological Review 125.
Lockie S (1992) Landcare: Before the flood. Rural Society 2(2).
Lockie S (1994a) 'Community Landcare groups: Changing social relations at the local level'. Paper presented at the International Conference on Issues Affecting Rural Communities, Townsville.
Lockie S (1994b) 'Rural gender relations and landcare'. Paper presented at the Australian Sociological Association Conference, Geelong.
Martin P, Tarr S and Lockie S (1992) Participatory resource management in NSW: State policy and practice. In G Lawrence, F Vanclay and B Furze (eds) Agriculture, environment and society: Contemporary issues for Australia. Melbourne: Macmillan.
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