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This paper describes the development of a process to facilitate the identification and introduction of
sustainable land management practices in the high country of New Zealand. The process was designed
to gather and structure community knowledge (both local and scientific) into a single, accessible
decision support system (DSS). The development and provision of appropriate, and user-friendly
monitoring tools is supported. An outline is given of how this integrated system can be used to
integrate monitoring with adaptive management. Special reference is made to how this process is
used as a large-scale ecological 'experiment', to enhance continually the knowledge base available
for land use decision-making in the South Island high country of New Zealand.