Perspectives on Developing National Outcomes and Indicators Eric Norland National Program Leader, Forest Resource Management Evaluation 2009 – Orlando, FL

Outline (The Story) Background – RREA and a Strategic Plan What the Partnership Accomplished Perspectives – Why This Seems to be Working What’s Next

Renewable Resources Extension Act “An Act to provide for an expanded and comprehensive extension program for forest and rangeland renewable resources” – 1978 Authorized at $30 million per year Funded at $4 million per year Eligible recipients: 1862 and 1890 LGU’s NIFA budget: “Other Extension”

Renewable Resources Extension Act Funding allocated by: Formula (1862 LGU) Fixed amount (1890’s, PR, VI, Guam, UDC) Competitive – National Focus Funds

RREA, Accountability and Program Direction First funded in 1982 Legislation requires a report to Congress every 5 years report – Prepared, not submitted RREA planning and reporting rarely present in Extension POW and AR NPL’s developed forms and asked for a plan from Extension Forestry Program Leaders

RREA, Accountability and Program Direction 2001 – ECOP Forestry Task Force – work on Forestry Title in 2002 Farm Bill 2002 – Task Force requested RREA budget increase 2002 – CSREES Administrator suggested a strategic plan was needed 2003 – RREA Strategic Planning Workshop in Denver

The Great Denver Blizzard of March 2003 – 30 inches in 2 days

We got a lot of work done! Identified 9 strategic issues Everyone (90 people – 54 LGU’s)volunteered to be on an Issue writing team The state partners said: “You need to hold us more accountable for the funds.”

RREA Strategic Plan – FY strategic program issues 1 strategic program management issue Action strategies Short, medium, and long term performance measures

Moving from Performance Measures to Indicators RREA Indicators Workshop Summer, 2005 – Cloquet Forestry Center – Minnesota Small working group intentionally selected for: Geographic diversity Institutional diversity Disciplinary diversity Logic models for program issues and reporting indicators (outputs and outcomes)

Planning and Reporting Guide (notice the cover!) Logic models for each issue Indicators POW and AR: Format Content Due Dates

Implementation – with no new funding Implementation workshops: 2004 and 2006 – Pre-ANREP Conference Workshops 2003 Workshop System-Wide Conference Competitive National Focus Fund projects – based on strategic issues Starting in FY CSREES Administrator: “No plans, no reports, no funding.”

Perspectives – Why This Seems to be Working The PARTNERSHIP did this! Jointly planned workshops Consensus on strategic issues Jointly-written plan; published by Virginia Tech

Perspectives – Why This Seems to be Working CSREES Leadership – adopted the plan as the program direction for RREA Institutions submitted plans and reports CSREES – reviews, comments on, and approves each plan and each 3-part Annual Report (CRIS, Popular Report, quantitative data) CSREES uses the reports

More importantly… Long history of “community” in the Extension Forestry network Broad participation by all partners – all have an equal voice Involvement of Extension evaluators Key contacts at each institution Frequent two-way communication; no surprises Formula program with a narrow focus

What’s next? Grant awarded to develop an RREA Strategic Plan for FY Current POW’s extended for two years Extension Foresters need to use Extension Evaluators Implementation evaluation Future of RREA - ???? It is a blend of formula and competitive funding, not 100% of either approach. Formula programs are not “growth platforms” Meanwhile…

Onward!!!