Applying a Statutory Duty of Care to Improve Biodiversity Outcomes at a Regional Scale

Gillian Elizabeth Earl

    Research output: ThesisDoctoral Thesis

    305 Downloads (Pure)

    Abstract

    The main product from this research is a framework designed to guide the implementation of a statutory duty of care for biodiversity in regional catchments of Australia. I describe in detail how the framework evolved “ informed and influenced by literature from multiple disciplines, as well as by feedback from key informants, workshop participants, and discussions with my supervisors. Key elements of the framework are the desired outcomes for biodiversity, supporting practices, and an adaptive management cycle “ together they form a biodiversity standard that embeds a duty of care. The framework provides a mechanism for community reference committees, comprising representatives of local and non-local interested stakeholders, to determine biodiversity standards that are suited to their local areas. The novelty of the framework lies in the way it places biodiversity as the central focus of the duty of care, and links the biodiversity standard to other policy mechanisms in an integrated system of regulatory pluralism. Social acceptability of the framework was tested in quantitative mail surveys, and then in a qualitative case study employing semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders. The results uncovered complex and nuanced responses about the social acceptability of the framework. Many concerns expressed about the framework were related to governance issues.
    Original languageEnglish
    QualificationDoctor of Philosophy
    Awarding Institution
    • Charles Sturt University
    Supervisors/Advisors
    • Curtis, Allan, Co-Supervisor
    • Allan, Catherine, Co-Supervisor
    • Turner, Vivienne, Co-Supervisor, External person
    Award date01 Jul 2012
    Place of PublicationAustralia
    Publisher
    Publication statusPublished - 2012

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