Visioning phase
Step 1: Identify and engage local actors
Who needs to be involved?
In this step you want to get an overview of who impacts the ecosystem and who is impacted by the decisions you make. Your goal is to make a list of local actors and reach out to them.
Get started with finding people!
Potential actors
- Local residents
- Indigenous peoples and traditional communities
- Community-based organizations already involved in EBM-like approaches
- Local cooperatives and informal groups (e.g. birding association, trail-running club…)
- Local champions (people who burn for your project and get things done)
- …
“Don’t underestimate the power of people who just get things done”
- Commercial fisheries and aquaculture
- Energy companies (renewable and fossil)
- Tourism and recreation
- …
- Local politicians
- Municipal/local governments
- Regional governments
- …
- Ecologist
- Economists
- Legal researchers
- Social scientists, community scientists
- …
“Different views are not obstacles; they are the raw material of better decisions.”
Communication is key!
Already in this phase you can lay the foundation for good communication throughout the process from the start until after the implementation of your management plan. Build your network and communication channels. Consider a social media platform and a website for your project.
Engagement methods can include
- Interviews
- Information and initial action events
- Social media
- Local networks