Use of historical evidence for vegetation mapping in N.S.W.

Jeans, D. N.

doi:10.1080/00049187808702745

Cited by 16 publications

(13 citation statements)

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“…Despite his advocacy for the use of survey plans, Jeans (1978) also expresses caution about their accuracy. He suggests that they have variable quality in detail, with some surveyors showing chains of ponds in a stylised way and others surveying them more accurately.…”

Section: Reliability Of Source Documentsmentioning

confidence: 94%

“…Successfully extrapolating the distribution and extent of the swampy meadow/chain of ponds from this source of historical data is limited. Jeans (1978), on the other hand, found benefit in using portion plans to reconstruct preEuropean settlement vegetation cover, and vegetation change in the Eastern and Central Divisions of NSW. We suggest that the low incidence of swamp recordings is possibly a combination of poor landform recognition, differing surveyor perspectives, lack of specific survey regulations, and the likelihood of swampy meadow/chain of ponds destruction in the first century of European settlement.…”

Section: Extrapolation Of Limited Evidencementioning

confidence: 98%

“…While these 'restricted area' accounts can be extrapolated to larger areas, it mostly poses limitations (Jeans 1978;Denny 1992). The effectiveness of using this form of evidence in determining the spatial distribution, extent and density of swampy meadows is then questionable.…”

Section: Repetition Of Observationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Many researchers have used historical documents to reconstruct past vegetation patterns (Jeans 1978;Fensham 1989;Benson & Redpath 1997;Croft et al . 1997;Semple 1997), record environmental change from the time of European settlement to the present day (e.g.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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When History May Lead us Astray: using historical documents to reconstruct swampy meadows/chains of ponds in the New South Wales Central Tablelands, Australia

Mactaggart

Bauer

Goldney

2007

Australian Geographer

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This paper examines historical evidence on the occurrence and status of an important landscape element in the Central Tablelands of New South Wales: the swampy meadow/chain of ponds landform. Our findings reject the notion that it is possible to reconstruct this landform as it was at the time of early European settlement, based solely on early colonial documents. Furthermore the analysis of such documents should be used with appropriate caution when benchmarking this landform. These conclusions have been reached by analysing 826 nineteenth-century portion plans, 18 early explorers and settlers' journals, letters and maps, and nine Surveyor General's maps and plans. We suggest that our findings have significant implications for developing management and restoration strategies, better informing conservation initiatives and the development of policies aimed at protecting, conserving and restoring the swampy meadow/chain of ponds landform. Our experience suggests that researchers involved in historical analyses of documents for similar purposes should be wary about factors such as the limitations and reliability of source data, unwarranted interpretations and the imprecise and/or contradictory use of terms. We also suggest that the possible subjective views of some observers, particularly those with limitations in interpreting such a landform, are further reasons to be cautious. If these factors are not taken into account it is very likely to result in a flawed interpretation. We conclude that both landform awareness and other perceptions of an observer at the time of early European settlement may present a hitherto unrecognised subjective element in this and other analyses which could limit the precision of historical reconstruction, without resort to other complementary methods.

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Section: Reliability Of Source Documentsmentioning

confidence: 94%

Section: Extrapolation Of Limited Evidencementioning

confidence: 98%

Section: Repetition Of Observationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

When History May Lead us Astray: using historical documents to reconstruct swampy meadows/chains of ponds in the New South Wales Central Tablelands, Australia

Mactaggart

Bauer

Goldney

2007

Australian Geographer

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“…Private archives and records are also held by individuals, large pastoral companies and in the Business Archives Department of the Australian National University. Little of this material has been used by researchers but interest is increasing as evident in the works of Heathcote (1965), Jeans (1978), Harrington etal. (1979), Griffin & Friedel (1984), and Oxley (1987 a,b).…”

Section: The Value Of Archival Sources In Improving Understandingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Historical perspectives on some vegetation and soil changes in semi-arid New South Wales

Mitchell

1991

Vegetatio

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The history of settlement of the semi-arid rangelands of western New South Wales is reviewed with respect to changes in the vegetation and soil which occurred under a regime of european land management. Simple dynamics of the vegetation response to grazing are illustrated and primary archival data is explored to verify the status of traditional wisdom about three examples of perceived change; the extent of the pioneers knowledge of land degradation, the timing and causes of nineteenth century Callitris pine regrowth events, and the importance of soil compaction. In each case it is shown that the traditional wisdom surrounding these issues is partly erroneous and that folklore is in danger of becoming accepted fact. Such errors must be avoided if we are to improve range dynamics models and management.

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Historical perspectives on some vegetation and soil changes in semi-arid New South Wales

Mitchell

1991

Vegetation and Climate Interactions in Semi-Arid Regions

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Use of historical evidence for vegetation mapping in N.S.W.

Cited by 16 publications

References 1 publication

When History May Lead us Astray: using historical documents to reconstruct swampy meadows/chains of ponds in the New South Wales Central Tablelands, Australia

When History May Lead us Astray: using historical documents to reconstruct swampy meadows/chains of ponds in the New South Wales Central Tablelands, Australia

Historical perspectives on some vegetation and soil changes in semi-arid New South Wales

Historical perspectives on some vegetation and soil changes in semi-arid New South Wales

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