The Mulloon Institute works with farmers, First Nations custodians, Landcare networks, Government, and other groups seeking to use nature-based solutions to improve landscape resilience, regenerate biodiversity and heal waterways. For several years the Institute has grappled with how to support these partners most effectively in a constrained funding environment. This challenge has two key dimensions. One: the most effective way to rebuild function in degraded agricultural landscapes is to tackle problems at a sub-catchment or catchment-scale and develop whole-of-system strategies. And two: landscape transformation is a social challenge more than a technical one, best achieved through peer exchange and collaboration. Both challenges are multi-faceted and not easy to address via current policy and funding structures in the Agriculture or NRM sectors.
2. What did you do? – the methodology or process you followed
Through collaboration with various stakeholders, we designed a novel capacity-building program that revolves around Communities of Practice. It incorporates bootcamps, GIS mapping/modelling, one-on-one mentoring, on-line engagement tools, and experiential learning through demonstration projects. Significant effort has gone into an iterative process to develop this curriculum and engage meaningfully with participants.
3. What have you learned? – what were the results or outcomes of your work, and how do they relate to the original problem
The model is showing great promise, as this paper will demonstrate through a focus on one case study Community of Practice: Swanbrook/Inverell in Northern NSW. The project reveals that the CoP model supports landholders to achieve landscape literacy and implement outcomes at a greater scale than if they were working individually.
4) Why does it matter? – reflect on the broader implications of your work and how the learnings from it contribute to the body of knowledge relating to stream management and consider potential opportunities for application of these learnings to other situations
As Australian governments look to accelerate landscape-scale restoration, biodiversity and disaster risk management projects on agricultural land, we put forward this model as an example of how this can be achieved. It creates a structured capacity-building pathway with deep engagement that can be adapted to different stakeholder partnerships within a catchment. We will discuss how this project has already inspired one government partnership, the first of many we hope.