4.Community participation
The intention of this target is to increase the diversity of opportunities for and hence the levels of participation in activities that directly contribute to NRM outcomes in the ACT. Participation can include volunteer work on environmental projects, including ‘watch’ and ‘care’ programs, paid work in the NRM industry, business contributions, providing specialised advice, donating to ACT NRM projects, and engaging in local environmental activities that have an influence on other people (e.g. environmental arts).
The measurable target
Some 5% of people in the ACT are active in NRM now. Doubling this to 10% by 2030, while population also grows, would require more than 1100 new people becoming permanently involved every year. The rate is likely to grow faster at first as new opportunities pay off, then slow as the proportion reaches 10%. The calculation does not allow for people ageing or withdrawing. The target would be better expressed as person-days participation but no data is available yet to support this.
| OUTCOMES | OUTPUTS | ACTIONS |
|---|---|---|
|
Intermediate Community participation in natural resource management has grown by 11 000 people (from 2008 to 2015) Long-term Community participation in natural resource management has grown by 23 000 people (from 2008 to 2030) |
A baseline data report Community events Engagement products Partnerships Volunteer ‘self-management’ systems Related plans Engaging People—The ACT Community Capacity Building Strategy |
Foundation Collect baseline data on participation in NRM – to include a demographic and attitudes analysis to help better target opportunities for participation On-ground Facilitate and coordinate on-ground activities Introduce and trial new ways of raising the participation rate, including novel incentive schemes (e.g. NRM ‘fly-buys’) Conduct targeted promotion of opportunities using diverse media Develop new partnerships, especially with business, to sponsor or engage directly in NRM activities Develop relationships with groups not traditionally involved in NRM but where participation has a mutual benefit (e.g. new migrants, cultural groups, mental health) Develop recognition systems for volunteers |
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