Collaborate or Die: The formation of the Northern Agricultural Region Sustainable Agriculture Network

(NARSAN)

Stanley Yokwe RLF, Richard McLellan CEO - NACC

RLF – helping to drive NARSAN

• Link and support community Landcare and production groups participating in sustainable farming and land management practices.

• Support and build capacity of these groups, to help them to implement sustainable land management.

• Foster collaboration and provide an interface between regional bodies, industry/production groups, government departments, R&D organisations and community Landcare groups.

What is NARSAN?

• NARSAN = The Northern Agricultural Region Sustainable Agriculture Network.

• A network of local groups in the Northern Agricultural Region - with a shared vision of “a resilient and sustainable agricultural and interrelated biodiverse system for current and future generations”.

• All committed to working together to advance sustainable agriculture in the region.

• A mix of grower/production focused groups; NRM/Landcare groups; conservation groups.

Why “COLLABORATE OR DIE”?

“Most high performing teams / organizations

cite collaboration & transparency as the

primary driver of their success.” – Sean Hull, ProjectManagement.com

“Working together effectively

requires a partnership framework”

(a charter) – Managing Natural Resources in Rural Australia for

a Sustainable Future (1999) – Standing Committee

on Agriculture & Resource Management.

Neville Marchant, former curator

of WA Herbarium, DPaW.

Collaboration – It’s a core NRM Principle

National Landcare Programme “Underlying Principles”

• MULTIPLE STAKEHOLDERS: “The National Landcare Programme will be delivered by regional NRM organisations, agribusinesses, industry groups, Landcare groups, community groups and individual landowners.”

• BROKER PARTNERSHIPS: “Each regional NRM organisation is expected to … broker partnerships, collaborate with networks and support local stakeholders in delivery of regional NRM activities.”

• BUILD CAPACITY: “Regional NRM organisations will continue to build on their partnerships with the Landcare community and will strengthen the capacity of the NRM community to care for their local environments.”

• STRENGTHEN NETWORKS: “In addition to developing partnerships with Landcare groups for on-ground project delivery, regional NRM organisations are also expected to support landcare and adopt sustainable farm and land management practices and to protect and restore Australia's natural environment through … strengthening landcareand community networks.”

– Senate Inquiry into National Landcare Programme report, 2014.

Strengthening Landcare networks

These principles are also key objectives in an “MOU” between WA’s

seven regional NRM groups (NRMWA) and WA Landcare Network

(WALN) – who agreed to:

Foster arrangements which support and encourage all community

landcare groups as they address landcare, natural resource and

environmental issues.

Promote coordination between local Landcare groups, regional NRM

bodies, local governments, government agencies and other stakeholders.

Provide mutual support to promote landcare in WA to the public and key

stakeholders.

Maximise the effective use of available resources by working closely

with all stakeholders.

– Statement of Common Purpose – WALN and NRMWA, 2015.

But, … a perceived lack of collaboration

“Experience has shown the importance of building trust with communities and

supporting communities and local groups to influence priorities and make their

own decisions. However, while NRM has become more professional, some

communities and groups have been left out of the loop” – Natural Resource Management Roundtable, Natural Resources Commission (NSW), 2013.

“The competitive process resulted in … competition between regional

NRM bodies and other regional organisations undermining

partnerships that are essential to the long-term sustainable management of

natural resources” – Submission by NRM Regions Australia to Senate inquiry into National Landcare Programme, 2014.

Practicing what we preach….

• Community groups play an important role to bring individuals along.

• Collaboration among farming groups, R&D corporations, and government increases farm productivity and promotes an integrated landscape approach.

• Community groups need to be supported in the long term.

• Stakeholder engagement should take a landscape view, but develop relationships at a personal level via groups.

– Natural Resource Management Roundtable report, Natural Resources Commission (NSW), 2013.

Key points from the NSW NRM Roundtable

• FOCUS ON THE OUTCOME

• “Competition between groups for natural resource management funding is unproductive and needs to be avoided. Programs need to focus on the outcome,not who is the service delivery agent.”

• BE A CONNECTOR

• “There is an opportunity for Local Land Services to work with, and leverage the existing skills and experience of community groups such as Landcare, farming system groups, (Environmental Non-Governmental Organisations and more), and to become a connector across communities, landscapes, industries, governments and scientists.”

– Natural Resource Management Roundtable report, Natural Resources Commission (NSW),

June 2013.

The NARSAN Charter

The NARSAN Charter

• “We the undersigned groups commit to working together to advance sustainable agriculture & interrelated biodiversity in the Northern Agricultural Region.

• We acknowledge the similarities in the visions, goals and objectives of all of our groups in such areas such as nature and landscape conservation, soil protection, and development and implementation of sustainable agricultural practices –leading to viable and profitable farming systems and communities; environmental, social and economic prosperity; and wellbeing for the people of our region.

• We commit to working together, to identifying and conducting collaboration projects and activities, and supporting each other’s endeavours to help achieve the above outcomes for the cumulative benefit of everyone in the region.

• We the undersigned support this Charter, and will make every effort to pursue this shared vision.”

22 signatories = 100% of local groups

Focusing on the Outcomes

What we are doing• We meet three times a year, hosted by different groups.

• Sustainable agriculture conference/forum in 2017 to show off

activities.

• Share resources and promote each other’s activities/major events

e.g. use of local newsletters and social media platforms.

• Draft communication plan.

• Group map that delineates groups’ boundaries – to help identify

potential collaboration projects.

• Collaborative projects.

• Invite guest speaker to present on different topics at our

meetings.

Recognition

The NARSAN initiative has been recognised by the Australian Government’s Department of Agriculture and Water Resource -as the way we should be doing collaboration. Simon Goodhand the Australian Government’s Sustainable Agriculture Facilitator, in particular, has shown interest and has forwarded NARSAN information to the NRM regions across the country - to encourage them adopt similar network.

Anyone is interested? We will be delighted to share information about NARSAN.

Take home messages

• It is important to work together to overcome any perceived lack of collaboration.

• Collaboration is key to success; and a part of NRM and Landcare DNA.

• Groups in the Northern Agricultural Region are keen to be collaborative.

• Similar initiatives to NARSAN have potential relevance to other regions and groups in Australia.

• Aiming to value-add; to magnify impact; to achieve multiple economic / social / environmental benefits.

Acknowledgement

22 Signatories Local Regional Groups1. Calingiri/New Norcia LCDC 2. Carnamah Landcare Group3. Gingin Water Group 4. Liebe Group 5. Moora Miling Pasture Improvement Group6. North East Farming Future 7. Northern Agricultural Catchments Council 8. Waddy Forest LCDC 9. West Midlands Group 10. Yuna Farm Improvement Group 11. Morawa Farm Improvement Group

12. Chapman Valley LCDC 13. Evergreen Farming14. Gunduwa Regional Conservation15. Mingenew Irwin Group16. Moore Catchment Council17. Northern Agri Group18. Perenjori Farming Forward19. West Koojan-Gillingarra LCDC 20. Yarra Yarra Catchment Management Group21. Mullewa Dryland Farmers Group22. Northampton Feral Animal Pest Control

THANK YOU

For More Information about NARSAN

Stanley Yokwe

Mobile: 0428 649 775

Stanley.Yokwe@nacc.com.au

www.nacc.com.au