Knowledges in action: an actor network analysis of a wetland agri-environment scheme

Agri-environment schemes have been developed by the member states of the Eu ropean Union over the last 10 years. Under Regulation 2078/92, the UK has s upported English Nature in the implementation of a nature conservation sche me for wet grazing land in southern England. This paper explores the differ ent understandings of nature. held by farmers and conservationists who are participating in the Wildlife Enhancement Scheme, by drawing on qualitative research completed between 1993 and 1995. Through the application of actor network theory, the analysis compares the role and identity ascribed to fa rmers by conservationists with the identity that farmers' construct of them selves. The former construct farmers as technicians, ignorant of the workin gs of nature, whereas the farmers see themselves as 'natural conservationis ts'. The paper explores how nature is translated differently in the worlds of conservation science and agriculture. In the final part of the paper, di scussion focuses on the management. of the wetland ditches when these sets of translations come together. It reveals that the rigid, scientific prescr iptions for management of the conservation value of the ditches are conside rably at odds with the more flexible and sensitive practices of farmers the mselves. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.