Using community values in catchment action planning

Lyndal HasselmanCAP Project Manager

Catchment Action Plan upgrade

A plan for the natural resources of the catchment

Whole of government and whole of community action

Approved by the Minister and submitted to Cabinet

Social-ecological systems

humans in the landscapewe live here, we use things in the landscape for

food, shelter and fibre - in doing this, we change the landscape

It’s a two way thing!

economic

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Social-ecological systemseconomic

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Landscapes

Livelihoods

Lifestyles

VALUES IN THESE SOCIAL-ECOLOGICAL SYSTEMS

What is important to you about this place?

Should our plan for the future take into consideration

what is important to you?

Finding out what our communities valueOnline survey with 204 responses

“What do you value about this landscape or place? Select three responses.”

What’s important to our communities

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Working with nature was more important in the tablelandsCountry identity was more important in the rangelandsFamily history was more important in the plainsFriends was more important in the rangelands and lower Lachlan

floodplainPresence of vegetation and presence of wildlife was more

important in the tablelandsBusiness opportunities was more important in the rangelands

..... than in the other landscapes

Biodiversity

Biodiversity

Biodiversity

Biodiversity

Biodiversity

Biodiversity

Water

Water

W

Water

W

W

Space

Space

Space

Prodt’n

Prodt’n

Prodt’n

Prodt’n

Prodt’n

Prodt’n

Biodiversity was most appreciated in the tablelandsThe river was most appreciated in the lower Lachlan floodplainSpace was most appreciated in the Lachlan rangelandsProduction and soils was most appreciated in the mixed slopes

… compared to the other landscapes

The most appreciated single element in the plains was the river

So how are these values used?

Along with other results from the community consultation

Knowing what is important to the communities of the landscape will help up develop a plan that works towards ‘what is important’.

If working with the land is important, then the Catchment Action Plan should enable or support ‘working with the land’.

If the natural biodiversity of the area is important, then the Catchment Action Plan should work to maintain or improve the biodiversity of the catchment.

WHAT’S NEXT

Reviewers phase

Have we got it right?Proposed prioritiesDraft document for review

What are the levels of success?How much is good?

Never underestimate the power of a few

committed people to change the world.

Indeed it is the only thing that ever has.

Margaret Meade