COMMUNITY TOOLS:     Conducting Public Outreach For Wildlife

Outreach

Getting support from your community for a Natural Resources Inventory or conservation project is necessary and essential for success. You can build support by doing outreach to other members of your communitiy. Outreach is "reaching out" to others through education, the media, conversation, or other creative means. Starting your outreach early in the process and using a variety of communication outlets will encourage community members to take an active role in taking action for wildlife.

Communities may want to build support for conducting a Natural Resources Inventory and Developing a Conservation Plan for Wildlife. Follow the steps in the table below to get community members involved in and aware of the process early on.

Landowners may want to conserve, manage or restore their properties for wildlife habitat, but often don’t know how or where to start. Community leaders can assist landowners by communicating and engaging landowners in conservation planning. Conservation commissioners can play a key educational role with landowners, such as:

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STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE

How to Conduct Outreach, Education & Communication about Wildlife
STEP 1:    Involve Community Members
  • Invite community members to participate in planning meetings - use local methods such as community newsletters, newspapers, posters, and ask community members to spread the word through email.
  • If you are planning a Natural Resources Inventory (NRI), get community members involved early on in the process. Provide opportunities for them to give input to the NRI. This helps to build support for future actions to conserve resources, such as wildlife, that are important to the community.
STEP 2:    Organize community workshops
  • Invite speakers to present workshops on special topics, such as Wildlife Habitats, other important natural resources in your community, Land Conservation Options, etc.
  • See Contact Us for a list of UNH Cooperative Extension and NH Fish & Game staff who are available to give community presentations.
STEP 3:    Organize outdoor workshops on conserved properties or town-owned lands
  • Consider field workshops as another option during the warmer months – people often enjoy getting out and learning in the field.
  • Use this opportunity to discuss management practices for wildlife habitat, or to visit specific habitats.
STEP 4:    Use as many communication outlets as you have available to publicize events and send information
  • Website postings – use the town website and online newsletters for your area.
  • Place articles in the local paper and/or newsletter
  • Use social media such as Facebook or Twitter to get the word out
  • Post notices of meetings and special events in public spaces (with permission), such as libraries, schools, post offices and local stores
  • Mail flyers to residents as needed
STEP 5:    Engage the entire community
  • Involve school teachers and students, holding presentations in local schools
  • Hold presentations in the public library and other community gathering places.
STEP 6:    Use ideas from other communities’ outreach events.
  • Review successful outreach events conducted by other communities in your region or elsewhere in the state, and build your outreach programs on these successes. Find ideas in Community Stories and in Resources & Publications.
STEP 7:    Sponsor educational events for landowners to learn more about how to protect wildlife habitats and species
  • The Taking Action for Wildlife Team (Contact Us) may be able to provide speakers to participate in such educational event.
  • Trained volunteers are available through the Speaking for Wildlife program to deliver wildlife presentations and lead field walks.

 

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