Why Study Rangeland Values? Some Practices That Scientists Have Much to Answer for.

Abstract

This essay challenges social scientists who focus on values, to make a practical contribution to rangeland matters. The essay is organised around three questions: Why study values? Can values be neutrally studied? and How can social scientists contribute to the possibilities of better rangeland practices? We suggest that the available language resources used and the environmental realities constructed within our research practices are limiting and not conducive to real, practical solutions. And, in conducting this foray, we wish to demonstrate how addressing these limitations with our audiences can potentially contribute to practical progress on rangeland matters.