Katy Reeder, Best Practices for State Wildlife Action Plans

1. BEST PRACTICES
FOR
PUBLIC
PARTICIPATION
Best Practices for State Wildlife
Action Plans

2. Required Element #8
Public Participation
Each State’s provisions to provide the
necessary public participation in the
development, revision, and
implementation of its Strategy.

3. Best Practice (1 of 8)
Define objectives for public involvement
processes
 Let objectives drive the technique used
Inform?
Inform
and
Gather
Feedback?

4. Best Practice (2 of 8)
Follow your state’s public notification and
comment period processes.
SOUNDS OBVIOUS, DULL, HOWEVER….
Is the goal to institutionalize the Wildlife
Action Plan? If yes, then integrate Plan
processes into normal business.

5. Best Practice (3 of 8)
“Go Chicago-Style” with notification
Do it EARLY and OFTEN!
 Notify the public of the intent to revise SWAP early in the
process and allow ample time to review and comment on
the draft plan before it is submitted.

6. Best Practice (4 of 8)
Develop a public input process that
 Identifies key constituent groups
 Identifies involvement goals appropriate to each audience
 Defines involvement strategies to effectively get
information to, and gather feedback from affected groups
Deliberately reach out to stakeholders

7. Best Practice (5 of 8)
Document public input processes used
within the Wildlife Action Plan
Sounds like a yawn Brings sunlight to the process,
saving you future headaches
BUT…

8. Best Practice (6 of 8)
File and archive all comments received as
well as actions taken with regard to each
comment.
OK, this will be a yawn.
Sometimes important steps are just not sexy at all.

9. Best Practice (7 of 8)
Scale the level of public input process to the
type of revision (comprehensive, major,
minor)
Example minor: Updating the scientific names to reflect
current taxonomic understanding.
Example major: Changing criteria for determining SGCN
list
Comprehensive: Full review and revision

10. Best Practice (8 of 8)
Link the plan to established community
values and use direct, honest language

11. Resources
Institute for Participatory Management and
Planning (the Bleikers)
http://www.ipmp.com/
International Association for Public
Participation
http://www.iap2.org/index.cfm

12. Embrace the Opportunity

13. PUBLIC SUPPORTS WILDLIFE CONSERVATION