Restoring Nature

Mar 29, 03:41 PM

Current Headlines: The NZ Landcare Trust South Island regional co-ordinator Shelley Washington believes environmental management is about managing people's behaviour.

"While humans are the main influence on the degradation of our environment, they are also the key to caring for the environment," she says.

"It is important to empower people to take ownership of issues and support them to find solutions and change their behaviours."

Washington has a Master of Resource Studies degree in Environmental Sociology from Lincoln University.

Her research thesis was called Restoring What?: a socio-cultural exploration of ecological restoration in Christchurch and Canterbury. Through eight case studies she examined groups of people involved in ecological restoration projects such as Clarevale corner of the Travis Wetland, Otamahua/Quail Island, Addington Bush and Oxford Wetlands and Forestry.

She says she found that "how and why human beings restore nature is as important as what they restore".

Washington's masters degree followed a Bachelor of Resource Studies degree in which she was senior scholar in her graduating year.

Originally from Central Otago and a past pupil of Cromwell College and Burnside High School, Washington made the decision to do an environment-related degree at the age of 15 and has never regretted it.

"I really enjoyed my studies at Lincoln University and they led to a very satisfying career where there is a real sense of benefiting society and the environment."

She works for the NZ Landcare Trust, a non-governmental, independent organisation, funded by the Ministry for the Environment and corporate sponsor Transpower, that fosters community involvement in sustainable land management and biodiversity initiatives. The organisation works mainly with private rural landholders.

The trusts's co-ordinators work with community groups and a range of other organisations within the community, industry, iwi, local government and central government. Their role is to facilitate and provide support and encouragement. This can range from identifying appropriate research expertise for projects to organising meetings and training workshops, assisting with funding applications and managing projects.

"I like it because it is a very people-focused opportunity to work in the environmental arena," says Washington, "and that's where it all starts, with people."

Along with the Masters of Resource Studies degree, Lincoln University offers the bachelor's level qualification, the Bachelor of Environmental Management (BEM).

The main focus of the BEM course is the study of inter- relationships between the ecological, social and economic aspects of the environment, says course adviser Professor Ken Hughey.

"The degree is distinctive in New Zealand as the only bachelor's level qualification offering multi- disciplinary training in policy, planning and management."

The next intake for the BEM begins on July 2.

* For more information on this and other Lincoln University qualifications, see www. lincoln.ac.nz

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