Changing Public Behavior > Audiences > Local decision-makers > Audience Information

11 Total Findings

A decision-making process that accepts the assumption that the people most involved with a particular issue are the ones best equipped to make decision is likely to lead to constructive solutions to land use concerns.

A decision-making process that is constructed based on local perceptions for how to make decisions can lead to grower acceptance of specific land use actions.

Assess patterns or organizational similarities that may facilitate the linkage among organizations to coordinate their actions at the river basin or ecosystem scale.

Assess watershed organizations to channel future research and to better approximate the organizational dynamics, issue concerns, and information needs unique to the organization.

Before designing training, survey local officials to learn if they:

Capable institutions are an essential element of effective integrated water resource management.  An institutional assessment process investigating policy, organizational and operational elements, are effective tools when designed and analyzed by stakeholders.  Assessment criteria include:

Gather data about policy maker skills and preferences prior to designing training

Local understanding about place and identity can provide coherence and justification for the creation and function of an organization as well as for individual or policy decisions about land use.

To enhance participation in water resource and watershed management, assess small landholder water related needs to orientate the public participation process.

Use audience assessment strategies to identify which, if any, water and watershed governance strategies interest households and landowners. Build participatory opportunities around specific topics of interest. Consider household and landowner response to strategies such as: pollution control, lowering prices, protecting flood plains, improving storage facilities, improving repairs and maintenance and introducing enforced metering.

Use key informant interviews of local leaders to aid understanding for how to engage leaders in planning for conservation of open space.  Consider attitudes, issues, and obstacles.


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