In South Australia we have some ambitious NRM targets. We know the only way to achieve them is by working together. NRM Boards and NGOs demonstrated their committment at a recent workshop aimed at maximising opportunities to collaborate and achieve NRM outcomes for SA.
On Monday, 14th December 2009, five of South Australia's (SA) largest environmental non-government organisations (NGOs) met with the state's Natural Resource Management (NRM) boards in a workshop aiming to maximise opportunities to collaborate and achieve NRM outcomes for SA.
This workshop was a continuation of a meeting held in Pasadena 18 months ago. Prompted by the Conservation Council of SA, priorities set by the Pasadena meeting were to establish a working group to:
1. Develop relationships between large NGOs working in the NRM space and NRM boards.
2. Test partnership templates and engagement protocols.
3. Facilitate on-going relationships and events.
4. To discuss ways to open out processes for other NGO's working in the NRM space
Working together we can life above our weight.
An important part of this process was to establish what each of the parties interests, skills and strengths are, and work together to create a draft Mutual Agreement that will facilitate ongoing relationships between NGOs and NRM boards to achieve natural resource outcomes in SA.
Monday's workshop at Trees For Life was an opportunity for all parties to come together to receive a report on the progress of the working group; discuss a draft mutual agreement; discuss sign-off and implementation of the agreement; agree on the next steps for completing and implementing the agreement; share 2009/2010 highlights; and to celebrate what we have achieved together.
Feedback for this process has been overwhelmingly positive and has been recognised by the Minister Jay Weatherill. The process was strongly supported, with one member at the meeting stating:
"Don't give this up. This is an extraordinary move. I wonder if you know how important and groundbreaking this is. You have extraordinary power in your networks and influence on community and government. I believe you can do amazing things in the future if you can pull this off".
For more information on this process please contact Jill Woodlands, NRM Facilitator at the Conservation Council.
