California Sustainability Indicators Forum Using Indicators and Report Cards in Interactions with Stakeholders or Communicating to Motivate Stewardship
Review Who I am Communication Exercise related to Report Cards and Indicators Examples & Lessons Ski Area Scorecard State of Sierra Waters Planning for Future Mariposa Indicators Moving forward
Since 1993, the Sierra Nevada Alliance has been protecting and restoring Sierra land, water, wildlife, and communities
Over 80 member groups of the Sierra Nevada Alliance SAMPLE Eastern Sierra Land Trust, Mountain Meadows Conservancy, Defenders of Wildlife, American Rivers Echo Lakes Environment Fund, League to Save Lake Tahoe, Mono Lake Committee Friends of Hope Valley, Friends of the Inyo, Gold Country Fly Fishers, Lake Tahoe Water Trails Association Sierra Club, Audubon, Native Plant Society chapters Snowlands Network, Tahoe-Baikal Institute, Alpine Watershed Group, Truckee River Watershed Council
Me 25 years with environmental groups Involved in producing over 20 reports/scorecard as NGO Communication/ major Fan of many tools collaboration to litigation Border Collie
Indicators/Report Cards Indicators Data that changes with time gauge trends Data sets chosen to guide evaluation and future action Objectivity & validity is a priority Data interpretation may be left to audience Report Cards Data changes with time or not Data sets chosen to deliver message(s) and past performance Data validity a priority Data intepretation NOT left up to audience Judgement message: Good to Bad
Communication Framework Audience Benefits Obstacles Desired Behavior Message/ Messenger Medium
Today s focus is one part of the Communication Plan Audience Desired Behavior Message Medium Report Cards Indicators
Review Examples & Lessons Ski Area Scorecard State of Sierra Waters Mariposa Indicators
The Report Card has four individual categories and an overall score. The four categories are: Habitat Protection Protecting Watersheds Addressing Global Climate Change Environmental Practices and Policies
# Name Grade # Name Grade 1 (A) Squaw Valley USA 90.30% 10 (B) Dodge Ridge 68.30% 2 (A) Alpine Meadows 86.20% 11 (B) Mt. Shasta Board & Ski Park 68.30% 3 (A) Sugar Bowl 80.00% 12 (C) Bear Valley 67.30% 4 (A) Boreal Mountain 78.70% 13 (C) Snow Summit 67.20% 5 (B) Kirkwood Mountain 77.50% 14 (C) Northstar-at-Tahoe 66.50% 6 (B) Homewood Mountain 77.40% 15 (C) Sierra Summit 66.10% 7 (B) Sierra-at-Tahoe 73.70% 16 (C) Bear Mountain 65.20% 8 (B) Mammoth Mountain 73.30% 17 (C) Snow Valley 63.90% 9 (B) Mountain High 69.60% 18 (C) Heavenly 59.70%
Habitat Protection (104 Points) 1. Maintaining Ski Terrain Within the Existing Footprint (30 points) 2. Preserving Undisturbed Lands from Development (31 points) 100.00% 3. Protecting or Maintaining Endangered, Species (22 points) 4. Preserving Environmentally Sensitive Areas (21 points)
Example One: Ski Area Scorecard Audience Desired Behavior Message Medium Ski Area Report Cards Skier/Boarders Major Media Story Media
Example One: Ski Area Scorecard Audience Ski Area Skier/Boarders Media Desired Behavior Benes/obs Be Environmental Stewards Message Communicate to Ski Areas (letter/choice) Print Whose Good/Bad Medium Report Cards Major Media Story
Example One: Ski Area Scorecard Ski Area Be Environmental Stewards Ski Areas hate the scorecard They are not involved in creating but do contribute information They publicly criticize and try to discredit Insiders say it has increased implementation of green practices It hasn t changed the economic model
Example One: Lessons from Ski Area Scorecard Whoever is in Desired Behavior box if you want cooperation involve in creation Media like report cards (good-bad) Grades and public media still influence behavior even without ownership of the tool.
Indicators Human Exposure Chemical Physical Chemistry Species Watershed by Watershed data
Example Two: State of Sierra Waters Audience Board/Organization Desired Behavior Sierra Watershed Network Legislators Public Message Medium Indicators Report Major Media Story
Example Two: State of Sierra Waters Audience Desired Behavior Board/Organization Sierra Watershed Network Implement strategies that improve watershed health Legislators Media Invest in strategies that improve watershed health
Example Two: Lessons State of Sierra Waters Implement Board/Organization strategies that improve watershed health Too expensive and data not updated frequently enough to guide yearly-5 year decisions Hoping other institutions do it SNC or water board Using other measurement tools for internal decision making (success stories, project task outcome in short-term)
Example Two: Lessons State of Sierra Waters Sierra Watershed Network Implement strategies that improve watershed health Too expensive and data not updated frequently for partners to use either Not involved in indicator development so not sure they would to use if cheap and current either.
Legislators Example Two: Lessons State of Sierra Waters Media Invest in our strategies that improve watershed health Legislators read the media not the report Too complicated to understand looking to the messenger s credibility and recommendation more than the data evaluation. IF only/priority audience cheaper tools to communicate a message
Example Two: Lessons from State of Sierra Waters Not enough bang for buck on time frame needed for NGOs with operating budgets under 1 million Getting sustained funding for indicator reports over the 25 year period may be even harder than getting project monitoring funds
Example Three: Mariposa Socio-Economic Indicators Develop and evaluate measures and indicators for assessing socioeconomic attributes of watersheds. Process: Identified priority stakeholders Did Key informant interviews Community workshops Focus group meetings Written feedback
Example Three: Mariposa Socio-Economic Indicators Audience Local Stakeholders Desired Behavior Benes/obs Message Medium Indicators Report DWR Major Media Story
Example Three: Mariposa Socio-Economic Indicators Audience Local Stakeholders DWR Desired Behavior Determine value of watershed approach local environment investment in approach Define feasible social and economic indicators
Example Three: Lessons from Mariposa Socio-Economic Indicators Involve local stakeholders in developing conditions, indicators is critical for indicator projects. The process of compiling the indicators was more effective for local stakeholders than handing over the end report.
Summary Target audience and desired behavior? Whose involved in indicator development? Is their adequate data, time and money to repeat & guide action? Grades are motivators Collaboration and involvement changes culture Wonder if better tools for elected decision makers