SILC'S INNOVATIVE BIO-DESIGN PROGRAM

What is Bio-Design?

The Benefits of Biodesign

Bio-Design Topics

Evaluation

Who Should Participate

Programs in 2000

WHAT IS BIO-DESIGN

SILC's "Bio-Design" training program enables participating countries to explore in a structured way, the philosophical, administrative and practical aspects of Australian Landcare.

"Bio-Design" is conducted over two weeks and encompasses field trips and workshops. Delegates are partnered with their Australian counterparts, in specific environments matched the participating country's geographic and climatic conditions.

The program requires 15 to 20 delegates per country, drawn from government and non-government agencies, provincial/local government, rural extension and leadership, the banking sector, aid agencies, education sectors, agriculture, individual farmers and farming organisations, the media and conservation groups.

International delegations are encouraged to learn from the lessons of Australian Landcare: its successes, failures and future challenges.

Australian Landcare specialists are selected for their involvement in, and understanding of, the policy, planning, coordination and funding processes of the Landcare movement.

They are encouraged to learn about the visiting country's cultural, environmental, economic and social conditions and through consultation and dialogue, share ideas and solutions.

The "Open Space" format is one of the methods used. "Open Space" has proven to be very effective in increasing the participation and productivity of people in meetings, particularly when they have to deal with complex issues. "Open Space" draws on participants' interests, knowledge and experience so that new ideas and insights may be explored without the inhibiting constraints of more conventional formats.

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THE BENEFITS OF BIODESIGN

• Access to a professional 'gateway' to Landcare in Australia which is capable of facilitating an approach tailored to the needs of that country, drawing on Landcare experience and contacts throughout Australia;
• Access to a broad spectrum of geographic and climatic zones, affording demonstration sites to match the needs of visiting countries;
• Development of international partnerships between community, government, industry, and non government organisations;
• Understanding of the lessons learned through Landcare relevant to their country;
• Development of ongoing contacts with Australian individuals, Landcare groups and companies potentially able to assist with implementation of these lessons;
• A global Landcare support network;
• Training provided by networks of skilled people.

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BIODESIGN TOPICS

• Understanding Landcare philosophy and processes.
• The economics of Landcare.
• Landcare, the law and the politics.
• Participation, communication, leadership and planned action.
• Marketing and public relations.
• Technical issues:
  • soil, water and biodiversity and their relationship to agriculture and conservation;
  • monitoring and evaluation strategies, funding and resourcing.
• The process of change.

  Participants are encouraged to develop 'appropriate action plans' at the conclusion of the program. An Australian Registered Training Organisation delivers Bio-Design.

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  EVALUATION

  A monitoring and evaluation program will be carried out at 12 and 24 monthly intervals with the key contact in each country, after each visit.

  A full report on the International Landcare Project will be presented each year. The evaluations of each country program and successful projects will be widely marketed.

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  WHO SHOULD PARTICIPATE

  Delegates should ideally represent and be the "movers and shakers" from the following areas:

  Academia / University sector

  Aid organisations

  Banking sector Business / corporate sector

  Community - rural community leaders

  Conservation officers / organisations

  Educators / schools sector

  Farmers

  Farming organisations

  Government - Agriculture ministry or equivalent bureaucracy

  Media - journalist (national newspaper or writer with sympathy to agriculture and environmental issues)

  Non-government organisations (NGO)

  Planning officers

  Provincial/local government

  Research and Development

  Rural extension / training officers / facilitators

  Each country will be matched with areas of Australia that represent their country geographically as far as possible.

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  PROGRAMS IN 2000

  The "Bio-Design" training programs will be conducted prior to and including the International Landcare Conference to be held in Melbourne in March 2000. Further programs, after March 2000, will be run with individual countries on request, and at times to suit.

  Training will be conducted throughout the study tour, with dedicated time for theory, casework, and field trips. During the training program, visiting participants will be matched to their Australian counterparts.

  Participants will have access to an Australian multidisciplinary skills bank of Landcare leaders, Landcare practitioners and education professionals. Training programs will showcase Australian Landcare rather than prescribe actions for any other country. Specific exposure to people, who have been instrumental in forming Landcare partnerships through the various stakeholder groups, will furnish a good understanding of how it happened in Australia. The program will foster the formation of relationships that may provide ongoing support for the development of action plans towards rehabilitation and sustainable/viable agricultural practices.

  It is expected that the pre-conference training will lead to a greater appreciation of the various themes that will be developed at the conference itself.

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