Abstract

Non-native tree plantations have become a significant presence on the landscape of northeastern Argentina. This study investigated perceptions of eucalyptus plantations in two Argentine communities: Ubajay, a community with significant historical plantation presence and forestry industry employment, and La Criolla, a community transitioning to a greater focus on plantation forestry. The purpose of this study was to determine effects of providing scientific results to community members and facilitating discourse on participant judgments of plantations’ ecosystem service effects and the acceptability of plantations as a land use. Following information provision and discussion, La Criolla participants judged plantation impacts more negatively than did their Ubajay counterparts. Our findings suggest that ecosystem service impacts are likely to be judged less negatively by those who receive socioeconomic benefits from plantations. Analysis of these changing community judgments emphasizes the importance of engaging the public with deliberative practices and exposure to the best available scientific information.

摘要

非本地树木种植园已成为阿根廷东北部景观的重要组成部分。本研究调查了两个阿根廷社区对桉树种植园的看法：Ubajay，一个拥有重要历史种植园存在和林业就业的社区，以及 La Criolla，一个过渡到更加关注种植林的社区。本研究的目的是确定向社区成员提供科学结果和促进参与者对人工林生态系统服务效果的判断和人工林作为土地利用的可接受性的讨论的影响。在提供信息和讨论之后，La Criolla 参与者认为种植园的影响比他们的 Ubajay 同行更负面。我们的研究结果表明，那些从种植园中获得社会经济效益的人对生态系统服务影响的评价可能较低。对这些不断变化的社区判断的分析强调了让公众参与审议实践和接触最佳可用科学信息的重要性。