Cantabrian Mountain Range

Transcription

1 Stakeholder Engagement Plan Team-Assignment Week 4: Stakeholder Engagement Plan June 7 th 2015 Cantabrian Mountain Range - Hotspot for rural tourism and biodiversity, but also essential for agriculture, livestock farming and economic development - Seite 1 von 8

2 Cantabrian Mountain Range - Hotspot for rural tourism and biodiversity, but also essential for agriculture, livestock farming and economic development - 1 Introduction Building on the knowledge about our identified stakeholders within the Cantabrian Mountains, the different interests in land use and land management and the resulting conflicts, the main goal of our stakeholder engagement plan is the development of a future-orientated development of the entire region in agreement, interaction and collaboration of the individual stakeholders taking the policies of sustainability into account. Due to widely varying land uses and economic interests it is of utmost concern to reach an agreement between the goals of tourism, industrial sector, agriculture and livestock farming under the restrictions of soil, water and nature conservation and species protection. In particular, regular burning events destroy the soil structure causing instability and mobilization of the upper layer. But also the destruction or removal of the protecting vegetation cover is a far-reaching conservation problem. However, also ploughing and cultivation along steep slopes causing irreversible damage. Due to the fact, that the region is well known for its wine there are extensive erosion problems connected with wineyards: First, the cultivation occurs very often along the slopes and in rows. Second, the grapevines do not cover the soil completely. Additionally extensive irrigation systems are necessary, which also promote soil mobilization. Therefore, a sustainable development of the cultivation and livestock farming is the main goal to protect the landscapes diversity. 1.More information on conservative soil management including No cultivation on slopes: Afforestation or pastureland use No ploughing Less use of fertilisers, pesticides and less irrigation No burning Erosion protection measures: i.a. windbreak hedges, pastures and afforestation, permanent coverage of field with mulch or vegetation 2.Limited quantity of cattle to avoid over-grazing No grazing along slopes 3.Changeover to soft eco-tourism 4.Support of green economies environment compatible, sustainable industries Seite 2 von 8

3 Due to the extension of the mountain chain, different Spanish provinces are included with varying intensions. Interaction and regular consultations are necessary to avoid utilization conflicts especially seen i.e. in rivers flowing over the borders of provinces. 2 Stakeholder Analysis and Selection 2.1 Show in detail how the stakeholders were identified The individual stakeholders within the Cantabrian Mountain Chain were initially identified due to a work shop of our land management team. In a second step selected experts, companies and locals were interviewed using qualitative empirical methods. Afterwards, we were able to offer various information evenings in the town halls of every commune involved in Asturias, Cantabria and Pais Basco. An extensive information campaign took place to inform locals with hanging out flyers, placards, newspaper articles and information stands. The information events were very effective to inform citizens, companies and industries, to discuss ideas and problems, to collect proposals and share information. Additionally, an extensive advertising campaign was published via television and internet. We also provided an interactive website to share ideas and to discuss. To receive more detailed information, citizens are able to participate an online survey to receive also quantitative empirical data Diversity of stakeholders, Differentiation, categorization and relationships of stakeholders The stakeholders identified by our land management team are diverse and vary in their interests and goals. As you can see in table 1, we identified six different groups. However, the seven groups are solely our main stakeholders. There are much more, which should be considered, but we decided to provide a generalized categorization for the over view of our diagrams. The categorization covers the: 1. Government, 2. Agribusiness, 3. Industries, 4. Services, 5. Conservationists, 6. Civil Society and 7. Locals 1) Government: Naturaleza y Medio Ambiente: Politics, communes 2) Agribusiness: Wine farmers, cattle, crops, fruits and vegetables 3) Industrial Sector: Metal industry, maching 4) Service Sector: Tourist agencies 5) Conservationists: Ecologicas en Acción 6) Civil Society: NGO s: Cantabria Acoge 7) Civil Society: Tourists 8) Local residents: Private Seite 3 von 8

4 Tab. 1: Identified Stakeholder s in the Cantabrian Mountain Chain. Stakeholder Name Type of Stakeholder 1 Description 2 Relationship to the land 3 Naturaleza y Medio Ambiente Government Land owner Leases land to conditions & requirements to farmers Castro Urdiales Agribusiness Depends on crop yield Aims to maximise its profit margin Ecologistas en Acción Conservationists Against monoculture Wants to protect soil quality and biodiversity NGO Cantabria Acoge Concerned with land Policy of food production Tourists and tourist agencies Civil Society Visitors Recreation and adventure vacation i.e. climbing, hiking Local residents Private Land owners/ renters Private use 1 e.g. Government, Private, and civil society 2 e.g. Land user groups, concerned with land or economically profitable exploitation, and/or conservation and/or preservation. 3 Level /Role/Policy context 2.3 The relationship between the stakeholders In our venn diagram the locals are located in the center as a connecting stakeholder (Fig. 1). This is due to the fact that the locals are involved everywhere. The local residents are partially the owner of the land and working in the region. Therefore, they are also a part of the businesses, the government and the NGO s. They might also be involved into the tourist sector, however the tourist agencies are often big companies located in foreign countries. Therefore, we decided to separate also the tourist agencies from the other stakeholders closer connected to the region itself. Figure 1: Venn Diagram of stakeholders in the Cantabrian Mountains. Seite 4 von 8

5 2.4 Legitimacy of stakeholders Figure 2: Interest-influence-matrix of the Cantabrian Mountain Stakeholder. After the information events and campaigns via modern media we started to evaluate the collected empirical data and discussed the results directly with the stakeholders. Every individual stakeholder has a stake to land management within the Cantabrian Mountains. However, not every stakeholder is involved in the same way and the individual stakeholders are in different relationships to each other. 2.5 Prioritise of stakeholders 1. The most important factor of the Stakeholder Engagement Plan are our goals we focus: Soil and nature conservation 2. The government is a great influence factor and will be focused for promotion of our goals to the economical sectors as well as local residents 3. Furthermore, the main goals will be also discussed with NGO s and Nature Conservation Agencies, which will also help us to advertise our goals and the results of our discussions and meetings. 4. To involve and connect the local residents, we planed regular meetings and workshops to discuss their central position connecting every sector involved. Therefore, we invite also politics, representatives from the companies and farmers to the meetings to build a network and to improve the interaction and exchange of information. 5. Tourists and tourist agencies should be more informed about current projects. Hence, they could include nature conservation issues into environmental education programs. This idea can be also connected with local schools to improve the local environmental knowledge already within the governmental education system. Seite 5 von 8

6 2 Material to prepare ahead of the discussion The preparation of communication materials and the evolution have to include four basic points, which will be discussed in the following. 2.1 Areas of Common Interest According to the last weeks assignments and information on our stakeholders there is one goal which connects everybody involved: A future-orientated, sustainable land management which allows following generations similar environmental resources and conditions as we have. Therefore, even profit-orientated industries and agricultural companies focus longlasting consistent profits, a goal which can be only reached by sustainable land management. However, this preservation and conservation goals involve always a little profit losses or production restrictions, respectively. Therefore, the government, locals and conservationists have always the strongest interest to reach this goal while companies plan often only for short term profits. However, also the tourist sector focuses a conservation of the landscapes and species they advertise to promote the region for tourism and to make it to an attractive destination. 2.2 Type of Language To reach as many stakeholders as possible the main language should be always English. However, especially the elder Spanish have often limited linguistic skills and those people are directly affected, the communication should be offered in Spanish and English, so every society class is able to participate. 2.3 Format of Communication As already said, we provided a website with information and an online survey, so everybody is able to raise their voice via the provided documents, flyers, newspaper articles and telephone hotlines. Additionally, regular meetings support the interaction of the individual stakeholders and enable a permanent exchange and communication. 2.4 Communication Mechanism The rules of communication during our workshops are the same as in public. Respect for each other and the person in charge of the meetings. Everybody should have the opportunity to present their goals and ideas without interruptions and to prepare handouts etc. Seite 6 von 8

7 Tab. 2: Communication worksheet: Content Information on the issues, projects and further topics to discuss Description of perceived area of interest Material to be prepared ahead of the engagement process Meeting and discussion with other stakeholders Format (Mode of Channel/Communication - Introduction by a film facing the problems caused by land degradation on the world s population, agriculture and landscape development - Lecture by a person in public (i.e. a politician, actor, autor) Area of interest is the entire Mountain Range, the different soil types and locations affected by erosion. Flyers, video presentations, life web cam on the website, ticker about events attended by stakeholders. To promote and support the interaction, exchange and cooperation Identification of To connect and inform more further stakeholders people affected by soil involved erosion How suited to each Built-in Flexibility identified stakeholder Element it is? Suited to everyone since everybody benefits of soil conservation (demonstrative examples) Differs because everybody is affected in another way and in another region Very suited because everybody is affected, but in another way and extension - Starting with an activity: Everybody goes outside to get a hand a soil, to feel it and then to discuss how important the hand of soil is for us and what it means to you in person - examples of erosion processes in the region including a field trip to a erosion event - Discussion on the importance of soil - Discussion on the personal concern and experiences - Viewing, reading and discussion on provided material and collection on improvements Very suited, because it - Discussion and enables individuals to group work on goals connect and interact and solutions in small groups with similar intensions - Active communication and information transfer to further stakeholders Seite 7 von 8

8 3. Description of Engagement Process and Identification of Facilitation Needs The entire preparation lasts for approximatively a month. During this a great amount of basic data will be collected and evaluated by empirical research methods and the first ideas of acting and the upcoming processes and events are made, collected and discussed. Afterwards, in group meetings and workshops the flyers and further information materials, websites etc. to promote and inform the stakeholders will be designed and printed. Within the next phase the stakeholders will be informed by sending invitations to the first meetings and information events, round table, brainstorming to collect further data involving the stakeholders. The first meeting should be offered in time to underline the importance and urgency of solutions and exchange. From now on, there will be regular meetings and workshops offered to hold the involved stakeholders. A further spread of information is further on important to reach stakeholders which are not involved yet and to build a regional network and interaction. The entire engagement process requires financial resources as well as personal staff for the preparation and organization of the project phases and communication with the stakeholders. Especially, the first six weeks of preparation, data collection and design and collection of ideas is very time intensive and requires an accurate quantity of workers. Tab. 3 Timeline and Engagement Process Matrix Date/Duration Research Process Engagement Process Week 1-4 Preparation including data Research and monitoring collection, monitoring and identification of stakeholders Collection of ideas, processes and schedules Week 4-6 Design of flyers, websites and newspaper articles, films and further advertisement campaigns Communication, design and print Active spread of information: Verbal, modern medias, flyer etc. Week 6-8 Week 8 Week 8-? Communication with stakeholders The first meeting should be in time after informing the stakeholders about sustainable land management practice Sending of the information material and invitation to meetings and workshops Further collection of information, ideas and problems by communication between the individual stakeholders Regular meeting are provided Presentations, information to communicate, exchange and films find solutions Seite 8 von 8