Interpretation is an educational activity which aims to reveal meaning and relationships through the sue of original objects, by first-hand experience, and by illustrative media, rather than to communicate factual information. Its application has been largely confined to environmental education and natural resource management.
Perhaps the major difference between consultation and interpretation is the overt emphasis given in interpretation to behavioural change.
"Images from the Edge!" was a project to document and interpret community perceptions of coastal landscape and lifestyle values in the Far North Coast region of New South Wales, Australia. The specific aims of the project were to: (1) devise and present a set of coastal landscape images to provide an effective and imaginative interpretive experience for regional residents and visitors; (2) document the values, attitudes and preferences of coastal residents and visitors; (3) provide useful data for appropriate design, plociy and planning of coastal regions; and (4) engage in a community consultative process, using input from diverse disciplines spanning the arts and sciences. The central element was a touring exhibition One of the more innovative information gathering activities was the "Wheel of Coastal Fortune" game which allowed players to reveal their preferences for landscape and development in coastal environments. "Landscapes for Tomorrow" was an earlier and somewhat similar landscape planning project in Britain.
Interpretation can be a powerful negotiative tool and an invaluable aid in social learning.