Targets
The targets and management actions in this plan are a result of extensive community and government consultation. Sixteen SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and timebound) targets have been identified over the four areas of community, land, water and biodiversity. Objectives for each asset are set separately so that the plan focuses on individual issues and formulates specific targets and management actions (see the action plan in Part 4 for a detailed outline of actions, outcomes and outputs for each target).
SMART targets
- Making targets specific gives weight to each of them. It conveys the relative strength of each aspiration, and helps people focus on where action is needed and how that action might be taken.
- Most targets in this plan have been quantified. Quantified targets communicate expectations to the broader community – while not being ludicrously out of reach, they are nonetheless meant to be challenging. Quantifying targets helps people to focus on knowledge needed for more confident decision making about managing natural resources.
- Setting values and time limits on targets so that they are measurable and timebound is a challenging exercise since only limited information on the underlying trends in ecosystem health and condition, and the rate at which these ecosystems will respond to action is available. The unpredictability of future shocks (e.g. extreme climate events, major changes in world economic conditions) adds further uncertainty. Achieving targets ahead of time is better than achieving them too slowly.
Terrestrial orchid (Diurus maculata).
Photo Michael Schultz