TITLE:
An Investigation of Farmers’ Perspective on Biodiversity and Restoring Native Vegetation on Farms Using the Constructivist Approach to Social Inquiry: A Case Study of Beef and Sheep Farmers in Southeastern Gippsland, Australia
AUTHORS:
Peter P. O’Donnell
KEYWORDS:
Biodiversity, Rural Sociology, Native Vegetation, Landcare, Beneficial Arthropods, Agroecosystems
JOURNAL NAME:
Sociology Mind,
Vol.13 No.4,
September
4,
2023
ABSTRACT: Farmer participation and ecological restoration on farmland is tightly
linked. Farmers are key players in increasing habitat heterogeneity, preserving
biodiversity and creating sustainable agroecosystems. The perspectives of
farmers on restoring native vegetation are shaped by social realities, which
are made up of a multitude of mental constructs influenced by their personal goals as well as the
political-social-economic-environmental matrix. This study used
qualitative approaches to understand farmers’ perspectives on biodiversity and
restoring native vegetation on farmland. The first step of this project was to
recognize and understand that in an agroecosystem, biological and social forces
are not mutually exclusive but in fact inextricably intertwined. After this
step, a decision was made to pursue an inter-disciplinary project incorporating
both the ecological and social dimensions of an agroecosystem. There were two
study groups, Social Study A, which was made up of 24 beef and sheep farmers on
20 farms in southeastern Gippsland, and Social Study B, made up of a sub-set of
five farmers on four farms from Social Study A. The farmers involved in Social
Study A were interviewed about their views, beliefs and experiences regarding
land conservation programs, biodiversity on farms, and restoring native
vegetation on farmland prior to an ecological study of beneficial invertebrates
in pasture. The farmers involved in Social Study B were interviewed after the
ecological study on their farms. At the end of the ecological study, farmers in
Social Study B and their families attended a presentation on results of the
ecological study and given an informative calendar that included pictures and
information about beneficial invertebrates found on farms. The presentation
occurred prior to the interviews for Social Study B. Interviews comprising
Social Study B focused on whether participation in the ecological study,
attending a presentation on the results, and receiving educational material on
beneficial invertebrates influenced farmers’ attitudes and planned future
behaviours regarding the restoration of native vegetation or the maintenance of
on-farm biodiversity. Farmers in the research area were genuinely interested in
restoring native vegetation on farmland. However, due to dry weather patterns
in the research area, low commodity prices on the world market, and reductions
in agricultural funding, farmers lacked the time and money to restore native
vegetation on farmland. Farmers expressed interest in learning more about the
important role of beneficial invertebrates in controlling pest species in
pasture landscapes; and the related role of restored native vegetation in
supporting assemblages of beneficial invertebrates on pasturelands. Farmers who
are included in agroecological projects and are presented with the results from
these projects could be more open to undertaking restoration work on farms.