Regional Systems and Grassroots NRM: Blackwood Basin and beyond Graham Marshall Institute for Rural Futures, University of New England WA State NRM Conference, Bridgetown, 1 April April 2008

Outline of presentation How did we get here? How did we get here? Barriers and bridges to community-based NRM under regional NRM delivery Barriers and bridges to community-based NRM under regional NRM delivery Research findings from the Blackwood Basin Research findings from the Blackwood Basin Adapting to change Adapting to change Key points Key points

How did we get here? ‘Decade of Landcare’ sought to kick-start community-based NRM (CBNRM) ‘Decade of Landcare’ sought to kick-start community-based NRM (CBNRM) Local groups become seen as on-ground implementers of NRM decisions Local groups become seen as on-ground implementers of NRM decisions CBNRM evolves into the purchaser-provider ‘partnerships’ of NHT1 CBNRM evolves into the purchaser-provider ‘partnerships’ of NHT1

NHT1 criticised for lacking strategic investment and accountability NHT1 criticised for lacking strategic investment and accountability Regional delivery model (NHT2 and NAP) introduced as the solution Regional delivery model (NHT2 and NAP) introduced as the solution ‘Caring for our Country’ expects regions to compete for funding ‘Caring for our Country’ expects regions to compete for funding

Barriers and bridges for CBNRM under regional delivery Three barriers for regional bodies: Three barriers for regional bodies: engaging large regional populations engaging large regional populations risk of becoming ‘governmentalised’ risk of becoming ‘governmentalised’ investing strategically without antagonising investing strategically without antagonising Might ‘nesting’ offer a bridge? Might ‘nesting’ offer a bridge?

An example of nesting

Nesting may allow trust to be ‘mediated’ in steps small enough to extend a sense of community ownership Nesting may allow trust to be ‘mediated’ in steps small enough to extend a sense of community ownership

Lessons from the Blackwood Basin Three case studies: Three case studies: South West Catchments NRM region; South West Catchments NRM region; Fitzroy Basin NRM Region; and Fitzroy 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 to 1992 Origins of Blackwood Basin Group (BBG) trace to 1992 Successfully attracted funds from NLP and NHT1 Successfully attracted funds from NLP and NHT1 Established 9 zones for grassroots ownership Established 9 zones for grassroots ownership South West Catchments Council (SWCC) formed as a federation of prior ‘regional’ groups South West Catchments Council (SWCC) formed as a federation of prior ‘regional’ groups SWCC becomes the region’s community-based body for the regional delivery model SWCC becomes the region’s community-based body for the regional delivery model

SWCC expected to engage community ownership from a population 5.2 times larger than the BBG’s SWCC expected to engage community ownership from a population 5.2 times larger than the BBG’s SWCC faced obstacles in nesting lower-level groups SWCC faced obstacles in nesting lower-level groups

Research questions: Research questions: How does the scale of CBNRM affect farmers’ motivations to engage with it? How does the scale of CBNRM affect farmers’ motivations to engage with it? Do farmers trust the regional delivery model? Do farmers trust the regional delivery model? What does it matter for their plans to adopt conservation practices? What does it matter for their plans to adopt conservation practices?

What does it matter for farmers’ adoption of conservation practices? 78% of the Blackwood Basin is used for agriculture 78% of the Blackwood Basin is used for agriculture Adoption of on-farm conservation practices is crucial for conserving the Basin’s resources Adoption of on-farm conservation practices is crucial for conserving the Basin’s resources How important is farmers’ trust in the BBG for their plans to adopt practices it promotes to them? How important is farmers’ trust in the BBG for their plans to adopt practices it promotes to them?

Yes, farmers’ trust in the regional delivery model does matter for their future adoption of conservation practices Yes, farmers’ trust in the regional delivery model does matter for their future adoption of conservation practices Yes, nesting of sub-regional groups does seem to strengthen farmers’ plans to adopt conservation practices Yes, nesting of sub-regional groups does seem to strengthen farmers’ plans to adopt conservation practices

Adapting to change Depopulation, ageing, less staff, more off-farm work Depopulation, ageing, less staff, more off-farm work ‘New’ groups compete with ‘old’ groups for farmers’ time ‘New’ groups compete with ‘old’ groups for farmers’ time Limited and uncertain public funding Limited and uncertain public funding Benefits of ‘modularity’ in a nested system Benefits of ‘modularity’ in a nested system Increased competition for funds may inhibit Increased competition for funds may inhibit collaboration (and encourage silos) collaboration (and encourage silos) innovation innovation

Public-community partnerships should not be confused with public-private partnerships Public-community partnerships should not be confused with public-private partnerships Regional bodies face significant challenges in engaging community ownership Regional bodies face significant challenges in engaging community ownership Nesting is an investment in reducing these challenges Nesting is an investment in reducing these challenges Key points

Farmers’ trust in their sub-regional body is one of the best predictors of their plans to adopt conservation practices Farmers’ trust in their sub-regional body is one of the best predictors of their plans to adopt conservation practices Changes in capacities, policies and knowledge require adaptation within CBNRM Changes in capacities, policies and knowledge require adaptation within CBNRM Competitive funding arrangements risk inhibiting collaboration and innovation within CBNRM Competitive funding arrangements risk inhibiting collaboration and innovation within CBNRM

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