In light of the situation described above, WWF-Australia initiated the Wetland Watch project in 2003 to address the urgent need to secure the conservation of high value wetlands on the Swan Coastal Plain. The primary objective of the project is to improve the management and secure the conservation of high value wetlands on the Swan Coastal Plain, focusing on those that lack the benefits of current protective mechanisms and those under significant threat, including wetlands located on private land. 1.1 Initial Team Composition and Operations The principal members of the Wetland Watch Project Team are: Team Leader: Christina Mykytiuk. Initial Project Team: Christina Mykytiuk, Raquel Carter. Current Core Project Team: Christina Mykytiuk, Brett Brenchley, Richard McLellan, James Duggie. Table A1. Project Team Knowledge and Skills. Core Project Team Person Affiliation Skills/Knowledge Roles Comment Christina Mykytiuk WWF Wetland biodiversity; wetland threats; wetland management; landholder extension; stakeholder liaison; project management. Team Leader; project manager & implementer Has built rapport with key stakeholders; is well respected. Brett Brenchley WWF Wetland biodiversity; wetland threats; wetland management; landholder extension; stakeholder liaison. Project Officer - implementer New team member (Aug 2006); has brought new experience/skills to project including community awareness raising Richard McLellan WWF Developing strategies; strategic planning; project planning, management & implementation; policies; reporting. Program Leader; project advisor; project manager mentor; assures alignment with national and global objectives. Key link for WWF policies, procedures and processes – especially reporting. Well networked. James Duggie WWF Water policy; stakeholder identification; political, social & economic contexts. Project advisor Served on the project Steering Committee and provided project management during pilot phase. Well networked – especially to gov’t.
Table A2. Project Associate Members and Advisors Associate Members & Advisors Person Affiliation Skills/Knowledge Roles Comment Ryan Munro Town of Kwinana Kwinana Local Government Area and key stakeholders; technical advice and support Environmental Officer Provided office space to host Project Officer. Ron Van Delft City of Armadale Armadale Local Government Area and key stakeholders; technical advice and support Environmental Planner Provided additional administrative support. Sarah Horgan City of Rockingham Rockingham Local Government Area and key stakeholders; technical advice and support Environmental Projects Officer Provided additional administrative support. Chris Beaton City of Cockburn Cockburn Local Government Area and key stakeholders; technical advice and support Environmental Officer Provided additional administrative support. Rosanna Hindmarsh Chittering Landcare Group Ellen Brockman catchment area and key stakeholders; technical advice and support Environmental Officer Provided additional administrative support; and hosting of Project Officer. Justine Lawn Department of Environment Technical advice and support. Senior Environmental Officer Provided project start-up funding. Trish Pedelty Swan Catchment Council Funding, technical advice and support. Integrated Water Program Manager Funding from Swan Catchment Council for project 2005/06 – 2007/08. The Wetland Watch project team is in regular contact on a daily basis, primarily through the use of telephone and email. It also endeavours to meet, face-to-face as a team, or in part, at least once per week. Christina Mykytiuk, Richard McLellan and James Duggie share office space at WWF-Australia’s Perth office, whilst Brett Brenchley is remotely located – about 40 kilometres away at the Town of Kwinana. Project Manager Christina Mykytiuk coordinates team meetings, and oversees the activities of the team and the project. Members of the Core Team met face-to-face for at least one to two hours per week during the development of the Wetland Watch Strategic Plan.
1.4 Conceptual Model Figure A2. Conceptual Model with Threat Rankings 1.4 Stakeholder Analysis Table A3. Stakeholder Analysis Direct Threat or Factor Stakeholders and their Contribution to the Threat Motivations Feasibility of Stakeholder Contributing to Threat Reduction Key? Illegal clearing 1. Individual property owners undertaking clearing (legal or illegal) on their property Personal (recreation, firebreaks, etc.) High – accounts for only a small proportion of the clearing that occurs, however has significant influence over what occurs on their individual wetland site. Need for education Yes 2. Companies/ businesses undertaking illegal clearing on their property Profit Medium – has a relatively high level of control over activities occurring on their own land; Not very interested in environmental issues though Yes 3. Legal officials not enforcing law Environmental protection High – has an interest and stake in stopping illegal clearing, just needs more time and resources Yes Clearing for residential development 1. Land Developers planning new residential developments where wetlands are involved Profit High – Have an opportunity to go above and beyond legal requirements to conserve and manage wetlands within development sites Yes 2. Decision makers (Department of Environment and Conservation and relevant local govt) providing advice/ approval to developments Environmental protection High – Responsible for environmental laws and can ensure enforcement. Yes 3. Individuals wishing to purchase new home Shelter, security, Medium – Driving force behind clearing for development but needs Maybe
comfort, nature to become aware of impacts of current development methods Invasive weeds - Disturbance to native vegetation 1. Individual property owners managing wetlands Personal (recreation, firebreaks etc) High – Can cease, minimise disturbance causing activities. Need for education Yes 2. Individuals accessing public wetlands Personal (recreation) High – can cease accessing sensitive areas, keep to paths, tracks etc Yes 3. Government agencies responsible for managing access to public wetlands Environmental protection Medium – can implement measures to reduce public access to sensitive areas. Also to provide education services, interpretive signage. Limited capacity to directly affect the behaviour of individuals Yes Increased groundwater extraction 1. Individual property owners extracting for domestic use Domestic use, recreation High – Needs education, but likely to change their behaviour, esp. since water efficiency measures are readily available. Yes Climate change (reduced rainfall) 1. Consumers worldwide Livelihood, recreation, general sustenance Medium – Change needs to happen at the individual level, but it’s a long process with many individuals to influence No 2. Companies worldwide Profit (cheaper to pollute) Medium – Proportionally large contributor to the problem. Public pressure to become more “green” Maybe 3. Governments worldwide Environmental protection Medium/High – Pressure nationally and internationally to act; In the government’s interest, but conflicts with corporate interests Yes Hunting (locally & along migratory path) 1. Hunters along migratory path Sustenance, recreation Medium – Needs awareness raising but unlikely to change behaviour soon because of long-standing traditions and sustenance needs No 2. Hunters locally Recreation High – Needs awareness raising, may be willing to change behaviour Maybe Pesticides from agriculture 1. Consumers Sustenance, environmental concern Medium – If made aware of the threat, several will switch to other foods or organic foods. Potential to create more demand for organics. Yes
2. Agricultural companies Profit High – growing interest in organic market; profitable and good for corporate image Yes 3. Local & national governments Environmental protection Medium – responsibility of developing and enforcing laws to limit pesticide use. Can make laws more strict but pressure not to do so. Maybe Overgrazing 1. Cattle owners Livelihood, tradition Low – Deep-seated tradition for summer pastures. Unlikely to change No