Action Planning Template This powerpoint presentation has been developed for use by Landcare Groups and Networks. It is designed to be used in conjunction with the “Planning with Purpose” guide. Feel free to add your group’s personal information and to edit to suit your planning day’s needs.

The Next 5 Years “Our Plan for the Future” Insert date Xxxx Landcare Group The Next 5 Years “Our Plan for the Future” Insert date

Welcome & Introductions Your day, your participation…

Background We saw a need, a seed was sown …xxxx to 201x [insert group dates] Build upon the strong xxinsert group namexx traditions & achievements “Back to the future” Review the past….Planning 201x to 201x Collective participation, sense of belonging & ownership

Purpose of our Planning day Provide group direction/community ownership Create a shared vision and values Assist with acquisition of required financial, physical and intellectual resources Provide a reference for community groups, corporate and agency partners and other interested parties Ensure important elements of sustainable land management are prioritised and achievable actions identified

Putting your Ideas into Action XXXX Landcare 5 year Action Plan Implementing the Plan Eg: applying for funding, field days XXXX Landcare Planning day

Format of the Day Time Item Minutes Insert times Introduction 15 Exploring Landcare 45 Mission, Vision, Areas of Interest 60 BREAK Objectives, Action Planning 90 Wrap Up FINISH

Rules for a successful day Phones off One person at a time Respect the opinion of others Listen to and accept all ideas Participate but don’t dominate Keep to the timetable

Exploring Landcare What do you think are the issues that face our community that can be supported by Landcare? What do I want out of Landcare? (to be completed in small groups) What can our Landcare group do better? What is restricting you or others getting more involved in Landcare?

Contents of an Action Plan Mission Statement Vision of the Group Purpose of the plan How the plan was developed and who was involved A brief history of the group A map of the Landcare Group area Priority Issues Objectives and Action Table

Contents of an Action Plan cont. Plus it may include: Social data Demographic data Biophysical data

Mission Statement A mission statement is a brief description of a group’s fundamental purpose. A mission statement answers the question: "Why do we exist?" It also covers the ‘what’ and ‘how’ of your group’s focus. The mission statement articulates the group's purpose for members, for partners and investors and focuses on the group’s current state.

Mission Statement cont. Example: Our Group's purpose is to promote sustainable farming practices through well managed projects to significantly increase their adoption across our Landcare Group area What is our current Mission Statement? What do we value in our Landcare Group? You may want to workshop your values now. Do we need to create/update our Mission Statement? If so refer to Appendix 2A, Creating a Mission Statement, in the Planning Guide.

Creating a Vision A vision is your inspiration and the framework for your planning. It answers the question: "Where do we want to go?" When creating a vision a group is articulating its dreams and hopes for what it would like to achieve. It sets the direction for planning but doesn’t tell you how you are going to get there. A vision statement is for your group - not for your partners or stakeholders.

Creating a Vision cont. What is our current Vision? Example: In 2015, the Arawata Landcare Group will have hosted five years of annual open Farm Days that demonstrated and shared local knowledge and which have assisted the majority of farmers in the district to adopt best practices in sustainable agriculture. What is our current Vision? Do we need to create/update our Vision? If so refer to Appendix 2B, Creating a Vision, in the Planning Guide.

Purpose of the Plan In a short paragraph outline why the plan was developed: "What purpose will it serve and how will it be used?" It will inform members, partners, potential investors and supporters of the intention of the plan and how the Group intends to use it. Having a clear purpose will increase the likelihood of the plan being used and not left on the shelf.

Brief History Think of this as a mini resumé In a short paragraph outline: When and why the Group was started Group accomplishments Group highlights and successes

Map of the Area A map of the area informs people easily of the geographic location of the Group Do we have a current map or do we need to get one? Does it still reflect our area? Are there any layers missing? Who can help develop/upgrade our map?

Priority Issues and Areas of Interest These issues are generally higher level issues rather than actual projects or specific actions. Example: Priority issue – Soils eroding from farms and entering waterways . Method – 1. Hold field days and establish farm discussion groups to promote best practice and share local knowledge 2. Establish demonstration sites Justification – 1. Best practices in soil management have been successfully trialled in the local area. Field days and discussion groups are effective methods of promoting these practices. 2. Demonstration sites on farms using these methods would be good for hosting the field days and visits by discussion groups.

Priority Issues and Areas of Interest cont. List the priority issues for your area: Use the information collected from earlier in the day – Exploring Landcare Include any issues from previous plans still relevant Briefly describe how each issue is to be tackled – methods used Provide justification for those methods Work in small groups to refine issues, and develop methods and justification – 2 or 3 issues per group – 15 mins per issue

Take a well earned BREAK!! Resume at xx:xx

Objectives Objectives help set targets for the priority issues and timeframes so you know when they have been achieved. For each priority issue create objectives: “these are the end results”. Are there any objectives from an earlier plan that can be incorporated? NB: there can be multiple objectives for each priority issue.

Specific Measurable Achievable Relevant Time-framed Objectives cont. S.M.A.R.T Specific Measurable Achievable Relevant Time-framed

Example of a S.M.A.R.T Objective Old Objective Mitigate the effects of soil erosion to improve the land productivity and water. Alternative Promote local best management practices that protect soils and improve water quality to 20 farmers in our Group area over the next 12 months. Work in small groups to update objectives and create actions. +

Action Planning For each objective create the actions required to implement them: “this is the what, who, where and when”. Answering the following questions can be a useful guide: What actions are appropriate to this objective? Which actions will we take first? Who will do them? When will these actions happen? Who are our potential partners? What resources do we need? Where will these resources be found?

Objectives into Actions Example: Objective: Protect remnant vegetation on private land by excluding stock, controlling pests, increasing plant diversity and linking patches through vegetation corridors Step-by-step Actions: Map all remnant vegetation and identify fenced and unfenced – plus who, when, how…… Approach landholders with unfenced to ask if they would like to fence it off Secure funding to provide landholders with fencing subsidy

Summing Up What have we achieved today? What are the next steps: Social data? Demographic data? Biophysical data? Who will take this forward? CONGRATULATIONS!!!