Item

Determining and integrating social frames of reference into the management of Himalayan tahr (Hemitragus jemlachicus) in New Zealand

Berngartt, Rebecca M.
Date
2004
Type
Thesis
Fields of Research
Abstract
While Himalayan tahr (Hemitragus jemlahicus) do not appear to have altered biologically since their introduction into New Zealand 100 years ago, the way people have viewed them and classified them has changed. Though at the time of its introduction it was little more than a footnote to the widespread acclimatisation movement in New Zealand's early colonial history, the status of Himalayan tahr in the remote Southern Alps has now become a topic of widespread national debate. The legal status of tahr has shifted between pest and resource several times, and management of tahr has been based on a combination of incomplete ecological data, legislative imperatives and public outcries from minority interest groups. Although management of tahr has had to respond to social, economic and political pressures, such management has rarely, if ever, been informed explicitly by the social sciences. As the management of this species has become a very public debate, it is becoming more important that the social factors involved in the management of tahr are adequately understood. Increasingly, social construction researchers are building views of wildlife species and management settings to enhance understanding of the interactions between society and wildlife species management. A common criticism of social constructionist works is that they lack a sound theoretical grounding. Works in social constructionist literature also often contribute to an irresolvable theoretical debate rather than advancing the methodology of the research area. This thesis attempts to build a methodological framework based on an understanding of the theories of the social construction of nature in order to respond to these criticisms and contribute to advancements in the area of methodology. This framework is then applied to the study of Himalayan tahr in New Zealand. By examining historical and current documents as well as analysis of interviews with stakeholder groups, this thesis illustrates historical and contemporary social constructions of tahr in New Zealand. The thesis then gives recommendations for future directions to take in order to help resolve the debate regarding the presence of the species. The main theme for these recommendations is trust building and steps to take to improve relationships between the different stakeholder groups involved in the species. The thesis concludes with a discussion of the strengths and weaknesses of the framework used in the study. This discussion illustrates how the framework utilised the different strengths and weaknesses of the study, and concludes that social construction theory is a good tool to use when examining the management of a wildlife species.
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