3.2.

3- Conflicts over the

use of outdoor
Key Knowledge environments
SECOND section
here
Methods used by individuals and
groups to influence decisions about
two conflicts over the use of outdoor
environments, and the processes
followed by land managers to resolve
said conflicts including:
• feral species in the Alpine National
Park
• commercial logging in Victoria
Describe two conflicts and
evaluate the methods used
by conflicting parties to
influence decisions in their
favour, and the processes
followed to resolve or
potentially resolve said
conflicts
 Conflict…
A conflict is defined as – a serious disagreement or argument, typically a
protracted one; a serious incompatibility between two or more opinions or
interests.

• As we have learned, there is an incredibly vast range of relationships

with outdoor environments.
• Many individuals or groups have very different opinions about how
environments should be used.
• Conflicts occur because of these differences, particularly when a
specific environment has a range of opposing perspectives about how it
could or should potentially be used.

See the example on pg.398 of text.

 Conflicts can be confusing
It can be easy to see some conflict- others less
so. Example 2:
Example 1:
Primary industry use of the environment Conflict can also occur between users how
generally focuses on the resources the have the same values or who participate in
environment can provide. similar interactions with the environment.
These interactions and their impacts are often Different recreational users can often disagree
heavily considered and even minimised as with each other over the use of the same
much as possible. venue.
However, if the environment used for them is • Fisherman and surfers
valued differently by others in society, either • Horse-riders and trail-bikers
as a venue for recreation or as a site of • Skiers and snowboarders
conservational significance, conflict may Ie: Warburton MTB park- community split
arise. regarding its benefits and its possible impacts.
Ie: Adanis Carmichael coal mine (QLD) and
impact on the Great Barrier Reef.
These cases are more likely to be resolved through
It is often difficult to reach compromise in these negotiation as both have a vested interest in being
cases able to access the same environments
 Individuals, groups and government agencies
When conflict over the use of the environment arises, individuals with
similar values may form an interest group with the aim of promoting their
views about the issue. The value of forming an interest group is the ability to
draw on a greater degree of resources than might be available to an
individual.
• The largest environmentally focused interest group in Australia is the
Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF), which was formed in
1964 by a group of scientists, businesspeople and public servants.
• Interest groups don’t always have conservation as their primary focus.
The Australian Forest Products Association, created in 2011, aimed to
be ‘a single voice … to present the forest products industry to
governments, the media and the people of Australia in a united fashion’.
 Methods used to influence decision makers
• Once 18, you are eligible to vote to elect government at three levels- Local, State and
Federal.
• This system allows the community to apply pressure to elected representatives within the
relevant level(s) of government and influence the decision-making process.
• Interest groups adopt a variety of methods to influence decision-making, particularly in
regard to the use of outdoor environments.
• Governments (and their agencies) are also in the business of gaining support for their
environmental policies.
• There are a range of methods at the disposal of anyone trying to influence the decision-
making process.
• How effective they are often depends on the decision-making process being applied to the
particular conflict and the parties involved.
• Which methods a group uses will depend on the scale of the conflict and the resources at
their disposal.
 Main methods of influencing decion-making
Non-violent interventions:
Non-violent protest and persuasion:
● ● lawsuits
formal petitions
● ● alternative knowledge creation
public campaigns including meetings
● blockades
and information evenings
● ● Environmental Impact Association objections
street protests
● ● alternative proposals
development of collective action
● participative research
networks
● ● occupation of public spaces
involvement of NGOs
● ● land occupation
media-based activism
● ● referenda
rights of nature argument
● ● hunger strikes/self-immolation
appeals to economic valuation
Non-cooperation:
● ● financial activism
artistic actions
● strikes
● boycotts of official processes Potentially violent actions:
● refusal of compensation ● property damage
● boycotts of companies and products ● sabotage
● threats to use arms.
Learning Activity: Advantages and disadvantages
of methods of influencing decion-making
Use table 8.1 (pg.401 of text
book) to record some
advantages and disadvantages
for each of the four methods:
• Non-violent protest
• Non-cooperation
• Non-violent interventions
• Potentially violent actions
 Processes for resolving
• conflicts
When a conflict occurs over the use of an outdoor
environment, a decision has to be made to resolve it in
some way.
• When the conflict is over the use of Crown land (e.g.
grazing in the Alpine National Park), the decision is the
responsibility of the organisation or authority in charge of
A government organisation
the management of that land. established to exercise
specific powers; eg- to
For example, Parks Victoria and the Victorian manage outdoor
Environmental Assessment Council (VEAC) are statutory environments such as
state or national parks
authorities that were established by the Victorian government
to manage public
land. Statutory authorities are not interest groups
(they’re impartial) and they report to the government.
 Decision-making processes
There are a range of processes used to resolve conflicts, each can have varying levels
of effectiveness in providing a resolution. These include:
Community consultation Management plans
A consultative group can be formed to Documents containing guidelines on
consult interest groups, public and how an area of public land is
experts with specialised knowledge of managed
the issue.
Use of court system Use of political system
- Used to clarify existing laws regarding - Government formulates ideas and
legal use of environment. policies on how the environment is used
- Often used when laws exist that relate to - Parties use parliamentary process to
the conflict need clarification or influence government decisions
interpretation.
referendum
Legislation (creating laws) - Vote by all registered voters to
Laws created to allow/prevent reject or accept constitutional change
something from occurring. - Generally used for large-scale
decision-making
 Learning Activity: decion-making – examples,
pros and cons…
Use table 8.2 (pg.403-4 of text book) to:
1. Record an example of each of the
decision making processes
2. Outline at least one pro (advantage)
and one con (disadvantage)
associated with using each process

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 The 2. Commercial
logging in victoria
Conflicts
• Logging of State Forests and Reserves
across the Central Highlands of
Victoria to produce timber
• People propose increases to NP and an
end to logging in these areas
1. Feral species in
Alpine National
• Brumbies (wild horses), deer,
park
goats, wild dogs – all present in
the Alpine National Park
• People disagree on how to control
these problem species
1. Feral species in Alpine National
Park
-Brumbies-
 Feral horses in alpine national park - background
Horses arrived in alpine areas in the 1850s- the first hard hoofed animals that environment had
ever experienced.
It is unknown how the first permanent populations became established- deliberately released
for summer grazing or farm escapees. Their numbers have grown and shrank with the seasons,
external pressures and early control programs by land managers.
The community is
genuinely divided and has
been since the brumby was
written into early
Australian literature.
Banjo Patterson’s ‘The
man from Snowy River’
immortalised the Brumby
as
a key part of the
Australian Alps
 Feral horses in alpine national park - Impacts
Exclosure fencing demonstrating horse impacts in the Alpine National
Park

Fenced area Notice the grass Horses have reached Notice the impaction
that excludes length as a result through the fence and damage in wet areas from
access of grazing grazed all withing reach heavy hooved animals
 Feral horses in alpine national park – The issue
Most of the community accepts that feral species need to be controlled within the National
Park, but some members of the public disagree with the methods used to control feral horses.
The Victorian National Parks Association regularly documented and publicised brumby
damage to Alpine environments.
In 2017, Parks Victoria published the Feral Horse Strategic Action Plan 2018-2021 for the
Alpine National Park.
It aimed to remove 1200 horses over three years from eastern section of the park, and
completely remove them from the Bogong High Plains.
The Australian Brumby Alliance strongly opposed this and took Parks Vic to court in 2018 in
the belief that it violated the protection it believed the horses deserved.
This is still a contentious issue today- different political parties promise to either remove
brumbies or prevent them from being killed based on who they want to please.
• See the timeline on pg.410 • See Parks Victoria’s summary of the issue: Feral Horse Management
• See the conflict summary on pg.411 • VNPA stance – brumby article search • Victorian Brumby Alliance
2. Commercial logging in Victoria
-storm recovery logging in the
 Logging in the Dandenongs- background
The Dandenong Ranges have been valued as a source of timber since Melbourne was first
settled.
The Ferntree Gully National Park was declared in 1882 and was one Australia’s early parks,
protecting 168 hectares.
Over the next 100 years other parks and reserves were establish, with the Dandenong Ranges
National Park being declared in 1987, amalgamating various reserves into a 3540 hectare
park.
In June 2021, much of Victoria was hit by damaging
storms.
220 hectares of forested area was severely
impacted.
Forest Fire Management and VicForests were
tasked with clearing felled and compromised timber.
Many people see this as exploiting a National Park,
removing a commercial product under the disguise
of fire management
 Logging in the Dandenongs– The
issue
Most of the community, and residents of the Dandenong's in particular, accept that fuel
reduction and bushfire mitigation are necessary and even vital for public safety.
Conflict has arisen in this instance due to ‘where’ and ‘how’ this is being proposed.

Storm affected forest within the National
Park
adjacent to the Silvan Reservoir has been
described by Forest Fire Management
Victoria:
“The post-storm condition of these areas
would make controlling a bushfire very
challenging and increases the potential
damage and risk to the community.”
FFMV will to remove 40 to 60 per cent
of fallen logs in the area (salvage logging
operation overseen by VicForests). Profits
from the wood being split between
VicForests and FFMV.
Remaining slash and debris will be
managed using a mix of controlled burns
and mechanical treatment.
Logging in the Dandenongs– The
Plan
This map shows the
locations identified for
FFM Vic. works to
occur in.
It also shows locations
of threatened species, as
identified by VNPA and
Southern Dandenong
Ranges Landcare
surveying.
Planned burn
Mechanical fuel treatment
Planned burn and mech
Fuel break
Storm recovery
 Logging in the Dandenongs– The
Threatened and vulnerable native wildlife desperately need habitat in forests recovering
from storm events. issue
Yellow-bellied and Greater Gliders, Powerful and Sooty Owls all
have records in and adjacent to the proposed logging operations.
All are recognised as threatened species.
Gliders generally occupy a home territory of a hectare- they are
unlikely to successfully move into other territories. They require large
dead or damaged trees to form hollows big enough for them to live in.
The Powerful Owl is the largest owl in Australia. A breeding pair will
live in and defend a home territory of up to a 1000 hectares.
A large area is needed to provide enough prey to sustain them.
They predominantly feed on possums and also rely on large
dead or damaged trees for nest hollows.
 Logging in the Dandenongs– Summary

Against…
• VNPA Articles– Logging in the
Dandenongs
• VNPA and Southern Dandenongs
Landcare – Facebook Pages
For…
• Forest Fire Management –
Dandenong and Yarra Ranges
• VicForests – Storm Timber Recovery