Contested beliefs about land-use are associated with divergent representations of a rural landscape as place

Abstract

Rural land use change is frequently characterised by conflicting beliefs about the likely social, economic or environmental consequences of a new or unfamiliar land use. How a land use is perceived, interpreted, and understood, is an important determinant of public response and attitudes towards that land use. Understanding factors influencing the formation of beliefs and attitudes towards a land use can help land planners anticipate and manage land use conflict and promote culturally sustainable landscapes. Previous qualitative study has demonstrated an association between conflicting beliefs about large scale plantation forestry, a contentious land use occurring in many parts of the world,..