Effective CE requires considerable resources from all
parties involved, especially time. In the fast-paced world that
many of us live in, time is a precious resource and therefore it is
important to use it wisely. There are a few simple ways to use the
limited time available more efficiently:
1. Be
prepared
Turning up on a
neighbour’s doorstep not knowing their name, their concerns,
or what type of operation is occurring is not conducive to the
development of a long term working relationship, it only wastes
everybody’s time and erodes trust and respect. Make sure when
you organise a CE activity that you are well aware of who you are
talking or meeting with, and what their main concerns are
(additional concerns are likely to arise during conversation). This
provides time for you to assess alternative management options,
source additional information, and obtain the required approvals.
In addition take the documentation such as maps, operational plans,
supporting scientific reports etc, including copies (where
possible) for the neighbour to keep for their records.
2. Be
flexible
CE is context specific.
From one engagement process to another people change, concerns
changes and expectations change. It is therefore important to be
flexible in the process and outcomes. Don’t try to stick with
a set procedure, instead know and understand your limits (in terms
of engagement skill, decision-making authority and forest
management knowledge), and adapt your process to suit the current
circumstances.
3. Be open
and honest
It is essential for CE
practitioners to always be open and honest when talking with the
community. If you do not know the answer to a question, don’t
make it up, instead admit that you don’t know and that you
will seek further advice and get back to them. Being open, honest,
and transparent helps to build trust and respect, and provides an
insight into your depth of knowledge and
professionalism.
4. Be the
right person
Time is easily wasted when
the wrong person is sent to talk with concerned community members.
The person may be wrong due to them not having the authority to
make decisions, not having the right specialised knowledge, or not
being a good communicator. It is important to consider the likely
concerns that people are going to have and ensure that the person
with the right knowledge and authority is involved in the
CE.
5. Be
thorough & thoughtful
It is important to be
thorough with your CE, this includes making sure you are talking
with all the people impacted or interested in the forestry
operations, and that you follow through on agreed actions. It is
sometimes prudent to show evidence of actions taken, or agreed to
be taken. This may involve writing a letter confirming the agreed
outcomes, or following up meetings with a phone call confirming
actions or providing additional details where required.
For more information on
conducting CE within Australian plantation forest management look
out for the Community Engagement Handbook coming out soon on the
CRC for Forestry website.
