Abstract

Behavioural responses are prerequisites to sustainability and essential if the Think Globally, Act Locally concept is to become a reality. The introduction of the Resource Management Act adds weight to the requirement for land users to Act Locally, through enabling land use within the stated purpose of sustainable management of resources. The provision of knowledge to enable land users to Act Locally is one of the priority roles for science, in order that the collective values of society are supported. It is postulated that the sustainable management of resources is likely to be symbolic and may have little direct influence on behavioural outcomes. Science needs to identify the utilitarian values associated with equity, efficiency, effectiveness and knowledge itself to enable local action. Local action will in turn support the symbolic beliefs of society at large. Failure to enable local action will result in society judging science on the basis of declining sustainability i.e. symbolic and the possibility of reduced public funding for future research. A number of new science interrelationships involving society, policy and other science providers are recommended.

LS, Saunders

Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production, Volume 54, , 373-376, 1994