Consultation

Active listening and learning

The Nature of SA was created to be an active and adaptive process. We began by holding conversations with more than 400 practitioners across the state, trying to understand what needs to change to enable better biodiversity outcomes.

Consulting the sector

Reviews of the No Species Loss strategy 2007-2017 indicate that the sector’s awareness of the strategy was high and it was seen as comprehensive and relevant, however over its tenure it had limited ability to influence or drive action for biodiversity conservation in the State.

Workshops with government and non-government conservation partners identified a number of necessary ‘shifts’ in our future approach to conservation.

These shifts were explored with the State’s environment sector over 12 months, at 19 consultation sessions, in every NRM region of the State, and involved over 350 individuals.

The ‘sector’ appreciated the opportunity to talk openly about the challenges and to take time to review the way we do business. Many related to Richard Hobb’s reflection on conservation loss and grief and welcomed the opportunity to discuss. They recognised that many of the discussions facilitated by the Nature of SA project were also being held in the global scientific and popular literature.

Literature review

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We took themes from what we heard and turned those into a series of Shifts. These have been shared and deepened further through a state-wide forum and small tests over the last year.

By their nature, the shifts are engaged with a global conversation around the edges of our knowledge. They involve new ideas and questions that must be investigated through an iterative process of acting and reflecting, not just talking.