life e-natura2000 · •(new) natura 2000 managers often lack the practical skills they need to do...

LIFE e-Natura2000.edu3rd Atlantic Biogeographical Seminar

12 to 14 June 2019, Antwerp, Belgium

Neil McIntosh, Project Manager, The EUROPARC Federation

The project and all actions are made possible with support from the LIFE financial instrument of the European Community

LIFE e-Natura2000.edu … in a nutshell

A LIFE Preparatory Project made possible with the support of the LIFE financial instrument of the European Community

Full name: LIFE e-Natura2000.edu: supporting e-learning & capacity building for Natura 2000 managers

Total budget: €845kProject period: 1.4.2018 to 31.07.2021Involves: 6 partners from 6 countries

Participants from across the EU in private & public landIncludes: 6 Implementation actions

5 Communication actions 5 Project management actions 23 Deliverable outputs


LIFE e-Natura 2000.edu - Project objectives

• Rooted in the EC’s Action Plan for Nature, People & the Economy

• Competence-based, blended (e-)learning - focus on what Natura 2000 site managers need to know & be able to do

• Work with a core group of 60 project participants & 500 other ‘casual users’

• Test innovative e-learning tools & approaches • Access information & connect with peers• Demonstrate project impacts in measurable ways


http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/legislation/fitness_check/action_plan/index_en.htm

LIFE e-Natura2000.edu - where we are now


Action number: Name of the action (obligatory):

A1 Identification and assessment of competencies for management of

Natura 2000

A2 Identification of project participants and the needs and usability of

training methodologies

A3 Develop a Training Needs Analysis (TNA) tool for organisations and

individuals to identify skill gap.

A4 Development of a common Natura 2000 management training

framework.

A5 Design, delivery and evaluation of pilot selected priorities learning

experiences in Romania+Spain+rest of Europe.

A6 Development of Virtual Hub: supporting Natura 2000 and Emerald

landowners and managers.

Competent Natura 2000 Managers

Competencies

The combination of observable and measurable knowledge, skills & attitude to do something well.

How an individual performs depends on their personal attributes


Global Register of Competencies for Protected Area Practitioners (Appleton M.R., 2016) – The PA Competence Register

https://www.iucn.org/content/a-global-register-competencies-protected-area-practitioners


Competence Categories


Category

CodeCategory Title Category Description

PPP Protected area policy, planning and projects Providing a strategic and rationally planned framework for PA governance and management.

ORG Organisational leadership and development Establishing and sustaining well governed, managed and led organizations for PA management.

HRM Human resource management Establishing an adequate, competent, well managed and supported work force for PAs.

FRMFinancial and operational resource

management

Ensuring that the PAs are adequately financed and resourced and that resources are effectively and efficiently deployed and

used.

ADRAdministrative documentation and

reporting

Establishing and implementing procedures for information management, documentation and reporting

CAC Communication and collaboration Building and using the skills required to communicate and collaborate effectively

BIO Biodiversity conservationEnsuring the maintenance of the ecological values of the PA through management and monitoring of species, their habitats,

ecosystems and natural resource use.

LAR Upholding laws and regulations Ensuring that laws, regulations, and rights affecting the PA are upheld.

COM Local communities and cultures Establishing systems of PA governance and management that address the needs and rights of local communities.

TRP Tourism, recreation and public use Providing environmentally and economically sustainable tourism and recreation in and around PAs.

AWA Awareness and educationEnsuring that local stakeholders, visitors, decision makers and the wider public are aware of protected areas their purpose and

values and how they are governed and managed.

FLD Field/water craft and site Maintenance Conducting field work and site maintenance tasks correctly, safely and securely.

TEC Technology Using of technology to support protected area management

FPC Foundation personal competences Demonstrate fundamental personal skills and behaviours required for day-to-day PA work.

APC Advanced Personal Competences Demonstrate personal skills and behaviours required for effective performance and leadership.

Tasks / requirements from the Nature Directives



Staff levels


Level Typical title Scope of work and responsibility

LEVEL 4 EXECUTIVE

Central direction and management of large organizations.

National and regional policy development, spatial and strategic planning.

Cross sectoral coordination.

Direction of complex programmes and plans.

LEVEL 3 SENIOR MANAGER

Direction and management of medium-sized organizations.

Planning and management of projects and programmes within strategic frameworks.

Conducting and leading complex and technical programmes (according to speciality)

LEVEL 2MIDDLE MANAGER,

TECHNICAL SPECIALIST

Management, organization and leadership of technical sections and teams implementing plans and projects.

Completing specific and complex technical assignments (according to technical specialty)

LEVEL 1 SKILLED WORKERCompleting specific and sometimes complex tasks and assignments under regular supervision (this can include field and administrative

staff).

(LEVEL 0)

Not used

UNSKILLED LABOURERCompleting practical tasks under continuous supervision (this often refers to also support staff).

Competencies vary according to your job



Natura 2000 -core functions

Core competencies that Natura 2000 site managers need


• Develop three core modules to provide ‘blended learning’ experiences

• Core competencies identified as being specifically required by Natura 2000 site managers include:

• Policy, planning, projects & biodiversity conservation

• Working with local communities & respecting local cultures

• Personal competencies for communication & collaboration

• Capacity to raise awareness & promote Natura 2000

Effective Natura 2000 management requires specific competencies


• What you know is important, but how you apply it more so

• Technical specialist knowledge is not enough• Effective Natura 2000 management requires …

• Know-how to develop, apply and work with participatory processes

• Ability to engage local communities & diverse stakeholders

• Specific consideration of socio-economic contexts

• Willingness to think synergistically• Exceptional communication skills

https://www.europarc.org/tools-and-training/communication-skills/toolkit/


EUROPARC Communication Toolkit

https://www.europarc.org/tools-and-training/communication-skills/toolkit/

Powerful communication for Natura 2000 managers:developing personal competencies


(e-)Learning

• Working together in focus groups• Approaches & tools are changing• New tools can always be explored• Understand why best practices work & how to

apply them

Training

• What to communicate• How to communicate• How to manage conflicts• How to negotiate & build

consensus

… so that Natura 2000 managers can do their jobs better & more confidently!

Powerful communication for Natura 2000 managers: blended learning - tools & approaches


• Webinars• Demonstration videos• Filmed ‘master class’ tutorials• Highlight effective management (best) practices• Practical assignments – for example:

• Analyse best practices to understand why they work;

• Apply learning & replicate where useful• Workshops• Summer school• New smartphone app – ‘virtual (twinning) hub’• Think through problems to develop workable

solutions

Competent Natura 2000 Managers –in the longer term, are we missing a trick?


Focusing on the individual …

• Continuous professional development• ‘On the job’ (lifelong) practical learning• Peer to peer experience sharing

Often, nature conservation professionals are each others’ primary resource

Especially for Natura 2000 management …

• Networking is a powerful means to exchange ideas and build new knowledge• Networks are established ‘communities of practice’


Can we think of Natura 2000 management as a distinct profession?

• Communication & stakeholder engagement are core fields of expertise• Individuals’ training needs can be assessed

• What competencies do they need, which do they have or need to acquire?

• (New) Natura 2000 managers often lack the practical skills they need to do their job - technical competence does not equate to effective implementation

• Natura 2000 management is a process• Participatory management needs to be learned … learning also needs

continuity of investment & use of new tools and methods

Competent Natura 2000 Managers … … know how to communicate & engage stakeholders


LOOK AT THE BURREN!!

• Know your audience• Language is key• Choose your communication tools wisely• Engage & work with people• Listen• Be consistent (& patient)• Acknowledge problems & differences• Focus on the positive & develop solutions• Speak with colleagues

Effective Natura 2000 managers know their subject & how to work

with people!

LIFE e-Natura2000.edu - looking ahead …

Project implementation phases

2018 – Set-up & analysis

2019 – Production & planning: Development of content, materials & toolsPromotion, selection & recruitment

2020 – Delivery – 3 core competence modules

2021 – Evaluation – project results & impacts


LIFEe-Natura2000.edu – get involved!https://www.europarc.org/tools-and-training/life-e-natura2000-edu/

https://www.europarc.org/tools-and-training/life-e-natura2000-edu/

Some ‘take home’ messages …

Looking to the future …

• Be proactive, not reactive

• Integration matters

• Invest in people

• Get involved & support networking




Our Natura 2000 site managers – thank you!


life e-natura2000 · •(new) natura 2000 managers often lack the practical skills they need to do...

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