How can social acceptability research in Australian forests inform social licence to operate?

Abstract

For forest managers, 'social licence to operate' involves implicit acceptance and approval of practices by local communities and stakeholders. Based in social relations of trust rather than formal agreements, social licence overlaps with a psychological concept, 'social acceptability', which has been used in examining similar issues with a focus on understanding public perspectives on forest management. This paper draws on social acceptability research conducted in forested landscapes in Australia over the past two decades to explore how social acceptability can inform understanding of social licence. This body of work reveals the diversity of views among publics and local residents, the mul..