October 20, 2012

Creating a pastoral world through fire: bush burning in the Manawatu

Posted by envirohistorynz under commentary | Tags: , , , , , , , , |
1 Comment 

How did the Manawatu transform from a densely forested environment in 1870 to a pastoral landscape by the turn of the century?

The answer, which will be explored in a lunchtime talk on 8th November, as part of the 2012 Manawatu Local History Week, is “fire”. (more…)

 

December 3, 2011

Manawatu’s environmental past to be documented

Posted by envirohistorynz under commentary | Tags: , , , , , , , |
[8] Comments 

envirohistory NZ‘s founder and primary contributor, Catherine Knight, has been awarded a New Zealand History Research Trust Fund Award in History to research the environmental history of the Manawatū. The project, tentatively entitled “Forested hinterland to pastoral province: the environmental transformation of the Manawatū”, will ultimately result in a book. The research will canvass the region’s history from its Māori settlement through to the present day, and will make use not only of historical, archaeological and archival records, but also the latest palaeoenvironmental research. (more…)

 

November 12, 2011

History shaping the future – NZHA conference

Posted by envirohistorynz under commentary | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
Leave a Comment 

Next week’s New Zealand Historical Association Conference features a special four-person panel dedicated to environmental history. The panel is entitled: “History shaping the future: how environmental history research can inform environmental policy and management”, and will feature papers by Professors Katie Pickles and Eric Pawson (both from Canterbury University), Professor Tom Brooking (Otago University) and Dr Catherine Knight (envirohistory NZ). (more…)

 

July 31, 2011

How can environmental history shape the future?

Posted by envirohistorynz under commentary | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
[3] Comments 

What do these three – seemly unrelated – photographs have in common? They all feature in an upcoming talk by Dr Catherine Knight exploring how environmental history research can shape the future, through policy and planning decisions which take account of the environmental past. This question has become increasingly topical both here and internationally, particularly in the wake of a series of natural disasters that have led to many questioning the wisdom of thinking that as humans we can control the forces of nature through engineering and technological solutions. (See for example: Is there such a thing as a natural disaster? The lessons of environmental history) (more…)

 

July 23, 2011

Undoing environmental history (with a spade)

Posted by envirohistorynz under commentary | Tags: , , , , , , , , , |
Leave a Comment 

Though my implement of choice for environmental history is the pen (or more accurately, the keyboard), I am known to pick up a spade from time to time. Specifically, to plant native trees on land in the Pohangina Valley, about 40 kilometres north-east of the Manawatu provincial “capital” of Palmerston North [click here to view location].

When I do so, I am deeply conscious of the fact that I am undoing the toil of hardworking men who “broke the land in” only a century ago, transforming the Manawatu – at the time described in a government advertisement as “the waste land of the Colony” – into productive farmland. (more…)

 

January 8, 2011

Views of Kapiti 7: Morning mist over Hemi Matenga

Posted by envirohistorynz under commentary | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , |
Leave a Comment 

A view of the Hemi Matenga hills, which overlook the town of Waikanae, taken from Elizabeth Street, eastern Waikanae. Low morning cloud shrouds the hills, threatening rain, and creating a sense of drama and mystique. (more…)

 

January 6, 2011

Views of Kapiti 6 – Reikorangi farmscape

Posted by envirohistorynz under commentary | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
Leave a Comment 

This landscape was taken from Mangaone South Road, Reikorangi [click here to view map]. Mangaone South Road largely follows the Waikanae River as it makes its way from the western foothills of the Tararua Ranges out to sea. In this shot, pasture-covered hills can be seen in the foreground, while regenerating bush-clad hills can be seen in the background. (more…)

 

September 25, 2010

Japanese satoyama – a model for sustainability?

Posted by envirohistorynz under commentary | Tags: , , , , , , , , , |
Leave a Comment 

The United Nation’s 10th Conference of Parties to the Convention of Biological Diversity is due to be held in Japan in October, and the pictorial Kyoto Journal has issued a special biodiversity issue.*

In this special issue, Dr Catherine Knight, the convener of this website, explores the validity of the model of sustainable management, or satoyama, touted by Japanese officials and conference organisers in the lead-up to the conference.

Read or download the PDF version of the article here. (more…)

 

May 21, 2010

Mountains, bears and conservation in Japan and New Zealand

Posted by envirohistorynz under commentary | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , |
Leave a Comment 

Mountains, bears and conservation in New Zealand and Japan are topics featured in an interview with envirohistory NZ founder, Catherine Knight on the latest episode of Exploring Environmental History.

From Exploring Environmental History: “On the podcast Cath briefly talks about the origins and topics of the blog before exploring her work on Japanese environmental history. (more…)

 

April 16, 2010

envirohistory NZ podcast – episode 3 out now!

Posted by envirohistorynz under commentary, podcast | Tags: , , , , , , , , |
Leave a Comment 

Episode 3 of the envirohistory NZ podcast series is now out. This episode explores three environmental histories – one local, one national and one international. The first story is of Wharemauku Stream, a small stream which runs through Kapiti, but which tells a story that extends beyond its geographical bounds. The second is former Green Party co-leader Jeanette Fitzsimons’ review of the last 35 years and what shifts she has observed in New Zealanders’ attitudes towards the environment. The third story is of Canadian forester – Leon MacIntosh Ellis, who immigrated to New Zealand to take up the first Director of Forests position in the new colony, and shape forestry in this country for years to come.

16 April 10   Episode 3 – Three environmental histories – local, national and international (12: 35 mins)

Music credit:  Polly’s song by Donnie Drost, available from CCmixter.

 

Next Page »

Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.

Join 252 other followers