GUEST: Paul McDonald, Chief Executive of Southern Queensland Landscapes.

Introduction to this episode:

The debate on how to speed up the urgently needed transition toward a more ecologically healthy, socially fair and economically prosperous society has thrown up a number of important questions. One of these asks: how we can engage and mobilise the wider community to support ambitious, progressive reforms to our economic, social and environmental policies and strategies, reforms which will enable a sustainable and resilient local, regional and national society to emerge? Such public engagement, when directed to help regional communities better manage, conserve and steward their landscapes and natural environments is part of the long-established practice of natural resource management or NRM.

And within NRM itself, the process of public and community outreach, education and motivation to achieve ecologically sustainable natural resource management is encapsulated in the term ‘extension’ which, in this special use of the word, refers to ‘a process of enabling change in individuals, communities and industries involved with primary industries and natural resource management.’

My guest today on the After the Virus podcast, is Paul McDonald, Chief Executive of Southern Queensland Landscapes (SQL). Paul overseas an organisation which uses NRM extension frequently and in diverse ways to achieve its community engagement objectives. In this interview, he describes his organisation’s approach to work: with land managers, in dialogue with groups which straddle the city-country divide, and in strategic conversations with stakeholders about weather and climate change trends, conducted in ways that do not polarise audiences.

Paul concludes the interview by offering a vision for what Southern Queensland Landscapes aims to achieve over the next couple of years and describes some of the intermediate steps which will help achieve the objectives of  ‘helping landholders understand their landscapes, adapt to challenges and be excellent stewards of their country.’

SELECTED SUMMARY OF TALKING POINTS

Some core principles of SQL’s work:

The importance of working in balanced ways with  diverse groups of land management stakeholders - always with a prime focus on landscapes.   

The importance of an evidenced-based approach to helping stakeholders with their management objectives, and their profitability whilst making a living and taking care of their waterways, biodiversity and soil. 

A brief history of NRM extension models: - what works?

A brief overview of the history of natural resource management (NRM) extension in community engagement and how new research on extension methods has enabled SQL to bring evidence-based approaches to refine traditional extension models, and hence produce more effective engagement with the communities it works with.

The movement toward a learner directed model within NRM extension processes – now sourcing the best knowledge content available nationally for learner requested topics and distributing such content to learners via digital technology.

SQL intellectual networking to enhance knowledge transfer

Best practice knowledge transfer assisted through adjunct/intellectual partnerships between SQL and national and regional universities such as University of Queensland, University of Southern Queensland and Sunshine Coast University. The key goal is to develop evidence-based research to assist practical knowledge transfer to regional communities.

The urban-rural divide – the need for more realistic cultural perceptions

The ways in which SQL approaches the urban-rural divide in its NRM work. The need to work in balanced ways with sometimes romanticised or mistrustful perspectives on either side of that divide. The consequent need for more realistic and evidence-based, cross-cultural perceptions in both rural and urban cultures - but particularly in the latter.

The undervaluation of agricultural food production as an ultimate driver of under resourcing in rural areas. The value of developing informal narratives to educate urban populations on the true cost of producing food in the rural sector. For example, educative information on food production costs placed in supermarkets.

Climate Change – principles of successful engagement

Successful engagement by SQL with conservative communities on issues related to climate change – and drawing upon scientific facts such as historic annualised reduction in rainfall trends. The growing interest amongst land managers to hear from First Nations long experience in dealing with past droughts and climatic disturbance.

Tapping into the direct observational experience of people on the land and waiting for them to make a request for educational advice on climate change impacts and how they might be mitigated. Offering practical and expert advice tailored to the particular circumstances of each land managers specific problems and needs.

A future vision for SQL’s work – its five-year mission

The future SQL vision of ‘flourishing landscapes’ and future five-year mission within SQL’s Strategic Plan 2019 – 2024 - to connect and support communities to take care of their landscapes. The goals for the next five years.

RESOURCES AND REFERENCES MENTIONED IN THE DISCUSSION

Applied research on the cultural and psychological factors involved in successful stakeholder engagement - by Strachan and others.

The Australian Grains Research and Development Organisation – findings on working with different interest groups through the development of trust and shared values.

First Nations collaborative partnerships with Goondiwindi Regional Council and the growing appreciation of the value of Indigenous cultural burning practices in land management.

First Nations experience and aboriginal science related to land management as encapsulated in the book Treading Lightly (2006) by Sveiby and Skuthorpe

GUEST AND CONTACT DETAILS:

Guest:

Paul McDonald, Chief Executive of Southern Queensland Landscapes:

Southern Queensland Landscapes 266 Margaret Street, Toowoomba Qld 4350

P 07 4620 0101 | M 0419 723 635 E [email protected]

Visit our WEBSITE or CONNECT WITH US on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or LinkedIn.

 Householders’ Options to Protect the Environment (HOPE):

T 07 4639 2135 E [email protected] W http://www.hopeaustralia.org.au/

F:https://www.facebook.com/Householders.Options.to.Protect.the.Environment/

Production:

Produced for HOPE by Andrew Nicholson. This episode recorded in Toowoomba, S.E. Queensland, Australia on October 6th, 2020.

Artwork: Daniela Dal'Castel  Incidental Music: James Nicholson