Regional Systems Regional Systems and Grassroots NRM: and Grassroots NRM: Blackwood Basin and beyond Blackwood Basin and beyond Graham Marshall Graham Marshall Institute for Rural Futures, Institute for Rural Futures, University of New England University of New England [email protected][email protected]WA State NRM Conference, Bridgetown, WA State NRM Conference, Bridgetown, 1 April 2008 1 April 2008
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Regional Systems and Grassroots NRM: Blackwood Basin and beyond Graham Marshall Institute for Rural Futures, University of New England [email protected].
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Regional Systems Regional Systems and Grassroots NRM:and Grassroots NRM:Blackwood Basin and beyondBlackwood Basin and beyond
Graham MarshallGraham MarshallInstitute for Rural Futures, Institute for Rural Futures, University of New EnglandUniversity of New England
WA State NRM Conference, Bridgetown, WA State NRM Conference, Bridgetown, 1 April 20081 April 2008
Outline of presentationOutline of presentation How did we get here?How did we get here?
Barriers and bridges to community-based NRM Barriers and bridges to community-based NRM under regional NRM deliveryunder regional NRM delivery
Research findings from the Blackwood BasinResearch findings from the Blackwood Basin
Adapting to changeAdapting to change
Key pointsKey points
How did we get here?How did we get here?
‘‘Decade of Landcare’ sought to kick-Decade of Landcare’ sought to kick-start community-based NRM (CBNRM)start community-based NRM (CBNRM)
Local groups become seen as on-ground Local groups become seen as on-ground implementers of NRM decisionsimplementers of NRM decisions
CBNRM evolves into the purchaser-CBNRM evolves into the purchaser-provider ‘partnerships’ of NHT1provider ‘partnerships’ of NHT1
NHT1 criticised for lacking strategic NHT1 criticised for lacking strategic investment and accountabilityinvestment and accountability
Regional delivery model (NHT2 and Regional delivery model (NHT2 and NAP) introduced as the solutionNAP) introduced as the solution
‘‘Caring for our Country’ expects Caring for our Country’ expects regions to compete for fundingregions to compete for funding
Barriers and bridges for CBNRM Barriers and bridges for CBNRM under regional deliveryunder regional delivery
Three barriers for regional bodies:Three barriers for regional bodies:
engaging large regional populationsengaging large regional populations
risk of becoming ‘governmentalised’risk of becoming ‘governmentalised’
investing strategically without investing strategically without antagonisingantagonising
Might ‘nesting’ offer a bridge?Might ‘nesting’ offer a bridge?
Regional body
Sub-regional body
Sub-regional body
Local group
Local group
Local group
Local group
Local group
District network
Local group
An example of nestingAn example of nesting
Nesting may allow trust to be Nesting may allow trust to be ‘mediated’ in steps small enough ‘mediated’ in steps small enough to extend a sense of community to extend a sense of community ownershipownership
Lessons from the Blackwood Lessons from the Blackwood BasinBasin
Three case studies:Three case studies:
South West Catchments NRM region;South West Catchments NRM region;
Fitzroy Basin NRM Region; andFitzroy Basin NRM Region; and
Mallee NRM Region.Mallee NRM Region.
Postal survey of farmers in each case (Sept 06 – Jan 07)Postal survey of farmers in each case (Sept 06 – Jan 07)
333 responses from the Blackwood Basin (29% response)333 responses from the Blackwood Basin (29% response)
Origins of Blackwood Basin Group (BBG) trace Origins of Blackwood Basin Group (BBG) trace to 1992to 1992
Successfully attracted funds from NLP and Successfully attracted funds from NLP and NHT1NHT1
Established 9 zones for grassroots ownershipEstablished 9 zones for grassroots ownership
South West Catchments Council (SWCC) South West Catchments Council (SWCC) formed as a federation of prior ‘regional’ formed as a federation of prior ‘regional’ groupsgroups
SWCC becomes the region’s community-based SWCC becomes the region’s community-based body for the regional delivery modelbody for the regional delivery model
SWCC
Blackwood Basin Group
Geographe Catchment Council
Zone committee
Leschenault Catchment Council
Peel-Harvey Catchment Council
Cape to Cape Catchments Group Catchments
Warren Catchments NRM Group
Zone committee
Zone committee
Zone committee
Zone committee
Zone committee
Zone committee
Zone committee
Zone committee
SWCC expected to engage community SWCC expected to engage community ownership from a population 5.2 times larger ownership from a population 5.2 times larger than the BBG’sthan the BBG’s
SWCC faced obstacles in nesting lower-level SWCC faced obstacles in nesting lower-level groupsgroups
Research questions:Research questions:
How does the scale of CBNRM affect How does the scale of CBNRM affect farmers’ motivations to engage with it?farmers’ motivations to engage with it?
Do farmers trust the regional delivery Do farmers trust the regional delivery model?model?
What does it matter for their plans to What does it matter for their plans to adopt conservation practices?adopt conservation practices?
Statement:
I feel a bond with …
% of respondents who strongly
agreed
Our property 61
Our district 39
The Blackwood Basin 8
The South West Catchments Region 5
Statement:
NRM at the scale of the … is so remote that it discourages us from getting involved
% respondents who agree or
strongly agree
Blackwood Basin 47
South West Catchments Region 61
Statement:
… is serious about empowering our community to solve our own NRM problems
% of answering respondents who agreed /
strongly agreed
BBG 83
SWCC 73
WA Government 39
Federal Government 50
Statement
% of answering respondents who agreed /
strongly agreed
The regional approach is a way for governments to ‘pass the buck’ on difficult issues
70
The regional approach is part of a strategy to increase government regulation of rural land-use
73
SWCC is just a ‘rubber stamp’ for decisions made by the WA Government
54
The BBG is just a ‘rubber stamp’ for SWCC 39
Statement % of answering respondents who agreed /
strongly agreed
The regional approach is an improvement on previous approaches
66
The regional approach has reduced the ‘red tape’ for landholders seeking NRM funds for on-ground activities
49
SWCC understands the issues faced in our district
62
The BBG understands the issues faced in our district
83
What does it matter for What does it matter for farmers’ adoption of farmers’ adoption of
conservation practices?conservation practices? 78% of the Blackwood Basin is used for 78% of the Blackwood Basin is used for
agricultureagriculture
Adoption of on-farm conservation practices Adoption of on-farm conservation practices is crucial for conserving the Basin’s is crucial for conserving the Basin’s resourcesresources
How important is farmers’ trust in the BBG How important is farmers’ trust in the BBG for their plans to adopt practices it for their plans to adopt practices it promotes to them?promotes to them?
Blackwood Basin practices for which
regression models were estimated
Surface water management
Groundwater management
Establish perennial vegetation
Establish perennial pastures
Revegetation & protective fencing
Soil remediation
Zero or minimum tillage cropping
Pest and weed control
Predictors tested by the regression models
Trust in: Contribution to goals Equity ratio
Sub-regional body Local group involvement % income from farm business
Regional body Property area Place attachment
Government commitment to community empowerment
Formal education Perceived commons problem
Government integrity Years experience farming % net income from grazing
Regional/subregional autonomy
Profitability Expected future district adoption
Statements used to construct a predictor for trust in subregional body
The BBG understands the issues faced in our district.
The BBG is serious about helping our community to solve our own NRM problems.
Community members on the BBG can be trusted to argue forcefully for the interests of the Blackwood Basin.
Staff of the BBG care about our community.
The BBG is less bureaucratic than government generally.
Which of the 17 predictors were most likely to be associated with farmers’ adoption plans for conservation practices?
Predictor No. of the 8 practices where predictor
was associated with future adoption plans
1st Perceived contribution to goals 6
2nd Local group involvement 5
3rd Trust in subregional body 4
Yes, farmers’ trust in the regional Yes, farmers’ trust in the regional delivery model does matter for their delivery model does matter for their future adoption of conservation future adoption of conservation practicespractices
Yes, nesting of sub-regional groups Yes, nesting of sub-regional groups does seem to strengthen farmers’ does seem to strengthen farmers’ plans to adopt conservation practicesplans to adopt conservation practices
Adapting to changeAdapting to change Depopulation, ageing, less staff, more off-farm workDepopulation, ageing, less staff, more off-farm work
‘‘New’ groups compete with ‘old’ groups for farmers’ timeNew’ groups compete with ‘old’ groups for farmers’ time
Limited and uncertain public fundingLimited and uncertain public funding
Benefits of ‘modularity’ in a nested systemBenefits of ‘modularity’ in a nested system
Increased competition for funds mayIncreased competition for funds may inhibitinhibit collaboration (and encourage silos) collaboration (and encourage silos) innovationinnovation
Public-community partnerships should not Public-community partnerships should not be confused with public-private be confused with public-private partnershipspartnerships
Regional bodies face significant Regional bodies face significant challenges in engaging community challenges in engaging community ownershipownership
Nesting is an investment in reducing Nesting is an investment in reducing these challengesthese challenges
Key pointsKey points
Farmers’ trust in their sub-regional body is Farmers’ trust in their sub-regional body is one of the best predictors of their plans to one of the best predictors of their plans to adopt conservation practicesadopt conservation practices
Changes in capacities, policies and Changes in capacities, policies and knowledge require adaptation within knowledge require adaptation within CBNRMCBNRM
Competitive funding arrangements risk Competitive funding arrangements risk inhibiting collaboration and innovation inhibiting collaboration and innovation within CBNRMwithin CBNRM