The following steps outline a simple process that should be followed when developing a project from the concept stage to a proposal eligible for funding.

Project concept

Consult your group on a project concept seeking their agreement and support to develop the concept into a project that may attract funds from external sources (eg. Envirofund).

Tip

• Your concept will have a greater chance of evolving into a funded project if it addresses previously identified management needs (eg NRM Plans and Investment Strategies).

Things to consider

• Does your project concept address activities that are eligible for funding
  Summary of Potential funding sources.
• Is your group an incorporated association and eligible to apply for funding? If not, will you be able to find an organisation to sponsor and support your group?
  Information on Incorporated Associations.

Shorebird values

Consult with organisations that have an (appropriate) understanding and knowledge of shorebirds (eg. biology and ecology) and their habitat needs, to collate information on values at the site of interest to you, including:

• roosting, feeding and breeding habitat(s)
• species list (including the conservation status for the species present eg. Threatened)
• population estimates
• species whose abundances meet the 1% threshold#

# The 1% threshold was adopted by the East Asian-Australasian Shorebird Site Network to identify sites that qualify as internationally important for shorebirds (where 1% or more of the individuals of the East Asian-Australasian Flyway population of one species or sub-species of shorebird have been recorded). The 1% threshold is also used to identify sites for potential listing under the Ramsar Convention (for waterbirds) and the Directory of Important Wetlands (for animal species).
Information on the 1% threshold figure for migratory shorebirds.

Management framework

Identify the management framework for the site, including:

• zoning and Local Government Planning Scheme that is applicable to the site
• tenure and management responsibility (Local, State and Australian Governments)
• legislation and policy affecting the site (Local, State and Australian Government)
• current and future land management – determine from the Planning Scheme, any relevant Management Plans and Recovery Plans that apply to the site.

Things to consider

• Does your project concept address management needs identified in policy or management and recovery plans relevant to the site? If yes, it has a better chance of evolving into a funded project. 

Assess threats to shorebird values

Identify if threats and management needs are already documented in policy, or management and recovery plans relevant to the site.

Consult with organisations# that have an understanding and knowledge of:

• threats
• the source of threats
• impacts of threats

to the shorebirds and their habitat(s) at the site.

#Organisations can be community based groups, or Local or State Government agencies with some involvement in the site.

Site stakeholders

Identify those individuals and organisations with a stake (or interest) in the site. Site stakeholder categories that may be useful include:

• landholders
• management groups
• user groups
• interest groups

The management framework and threat assessment should assist in identifying organisations with management responsibility and individuals or groups contributing to management issues (ie. the target audience).

General objectives for the site

What you want to achieve at this site?

• You will need to clearly identify what you intend to accomplish at the site, and in what time period.

• Consult with organisations that have an understanding and knowledge of threats, their source and impacts to shorebirds and/or their habitat(s) to develop strategies and actions to conserve the values identified at the site.
• Develop and cost proposed works, and seek permission to implement specific management objectives for the site by following these simple steps.

• Identify and consult with 'lead' stakeholders responsible for, and most capable of, implementing proposed or existing management strategies and actions to determine their capacity and willingness to be involved (eg. priorities and resources).

     
These stakeholders are potential project partners, so it's advisable to use to 'Partnering Matrix' like the one below, to identify how and in what capacity they can contribute to the project.

Source: Robinson, L. (2005) Cocreate Manual.

• Cost management strategies and proposed actions- eg. What resources, time, transport, volunteers etc are required to fulfill proposed actions.
• Seek permission from landholders/managers to implement, or allow others to implement, site management strategies and actions once these have been approved

Things to consider

• Do your proposed activities require public liability insurance? If yes, does your organisation have public liability insurance? If not, you will need to arrange for this.
  Information on Public Liability Insurance .
• Do your proposed activities require volunteers? If yes, is your organisation able to source and manage volunteers adequately Information on Volunteers .

Monitoring and Evaluation

Identify realistic and achievable measures (milestones) that can be used to assess and evaluate the effectiveness of management strategies and actions.

Include before, during and after monitoring.

• Compile any previous data where it exists to extend assessment of the site.

Draft a project proposal

A project proposal should ideally include these:

• background site information (eg. location, area, shorebird values, management framework)
• objectives for the site
• management objectives - costed and prioritised strategies and actions, and lead stakeholders to coordinate and implement management strategies and actions
• measures to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of management objectives
• project performance indicators (milestones)
• list of stakeholders consulted, including permission from landholders/managers (where appropriate) for activities to be undertaken on their land