A Collective Impact Approach
to Restoring On-Farm Natural Capital
The issue
Conventional farming practices have accelerated the depletion of natural capital in Western Australia; an ancient landscape with nutrient deficient soils. If this continues, draw-down of natural capital will remain greater than what is being returned through natural processes. If this continues, future generations will not have access to the natural capital required for the ecosystem services that our food systems depend on.
In WA, there is no cohesive approach to managing these challenges, nor a long-term strategic plan to address underlying problems; we work separately, resulting in duplicated effort and competition for limited funding.
Collective impact enables the establishment of an investable, cohesive, strategic approach to supporting farmers restore natural capital in a way that benefits the agricultural industry & regional communities, and heals Country at a landscape scale.
The solution
Collective impact is a way of collaborating and sharing information for the purpose of solving a complex problem. This approach has been effective in the health and welfare sector, helping organisations in similar spaces establish shared purpose and improve efficiencies through measuring the same things, sharing results, and tracking progress towards large scale impact.
Taking a collective impact approach will help ensure this investment has an enduring, demonstrable impact.
Project Aims
Establish an overarching approach to restoring on-farm natural capital.
Identify a few key indicators for change and ensure there is consistency with how we monitor and evaluate aligned activities. The M&E information will be aggregated and utilised to demonstrate change (impact) at appropriate scale.
Establish and present a business case for government and philanthropic entities to invest into restoring natural capital.
Project Activities
There are three (3) components to the Restoration Impact Framework (RIF), Lotterywest funded project:
- Collective Impact project – Enabling a more cohesive, strategic, and investable approach to supporting landscape scale restoration of natural capital across the farming affected landscape (funded by Lotterywest).
- Building regenerative farming capacity – Identifying and supporting the adoption of practices to restore natural capital in the farming landscape, with beneficial outcomes for the environment, rural communities, and farming enterprises (funded by Lotterywest).
- Natural Capital Accounting – helping to verify and demonstrate land stewardship credentials – do the farming practices draw-down or help return natural capital in the farming affected landscape?
Collective Impact Workshops
Collective Impact workshops were attended by 44 individuals from across 37 organisations. Roadshows were attended by 32 individuals.
Nature / South West Australian farming landscapes, public / consumers, NRM & landcare groups, government and other funders, farmers and farming communities & groups, Traditional Custodians, Collective Impact partners, researchers and trainers were all represented through the following groups:
Aim: Generate ideas & dialogue
Getting to know one another.
Discussing the farming landscape context and issues to create mutual understanding.
Understanding the Collective Impact approach.
Discussing a shared vision for change
Confirming commitment for “on-going” collective action.
Photos by Simple Ben Stories
Aim: Initiate action
Initiating a Theory of Change and discussing shared outcomes.
Drafting outcomes for various stakeholder groups.
Presenting the concept of an investment pitch.
Photos by Simple Ben Stories
Aim: Focus on the work ahead
Reviewing the Vision and Purpose
Investigating the Theory of Change; presenting results of the outcomes and impact narrative.
Updating the Investment Case; who should be involved, who could fund, and our “angle.”
Introducing shared measurement and evaluation for a collective impact framework.
Brainstorming outcomes and indicators for three stakeholder groups.
Reviewing the landscape map of regenerative farming activities.
Presenting “What project success looks like by end of 2024″
Introducing a Charter for participants and undertaking a “principles of practice” group activity.
Aim: Organise for impact
Presenting and discussing the draft Strategic Approach developed following workshop #3.
Introducing the different Collective Impact governance structures (backbone organisations, steering committee, and working groups) that could be adopted in future stages and the group discussed the advantages and disadvantages of the different models.
Reflecting on the Collective Impact and Theory of Change approaches; what worked well and what needed further discussion or was left unsaid.
Photos by Simple Ben Stories
Activity Mapping
Throughout workshops 2 and 3, and the roadshows, attendees were asked to contribute their own organisations’ activities, to provide a more thorough overview of the extent of work that is happening in the regenerative agriculture space. Information was collected across nine categories.
This was an interactive activity, starting as a mindmap and now existing as a live document, which you can add to via the form below.
| Who | What |
|---|---|
| Perth NRM | Evidence based research to advise advocates, myth-busting activities to test efficacy. |
| Western Australian Landcare Network (WALN) & National Landcare Network | Ongoing advocacy to state and federal governments about all topics related to Landcare, but especially funding to keep state and national bodies functioning. |
| Who | What |
|---|---|
| Certified Organic Biodynamic Western Australia (COBWA) and Living Earth Projects Pages | Daily social media posts over twelve months. |
| Geocatch | Collective efficacy group; Geographe farmers protecting Geographe Bay. |
| Lower Blackwood Land Conservation District Committee (LBLCDC) | Regenerative agriculture-based podcasts and community online platform, Talkin after Hours. |
| North Stirlings Pallinup Natural Resources (NSPNR) | Getting NRM information into the classroom by sharing local knowledge to enrich education (The Bilya classroom project). |
| Perth NRM | Strategically targeted, evidence based information that highlights both failures and successes. |
| Simple Ben Stories | Sharing the work of regenerative farmers and agritourism businesses. |
| Sustainable Table – Orange Tractor Farming | Digital farming market; monthly supply of local food to local consumers. |
| WALN | Promoting regenerative agriculture through on-line forums like Landcare Checks In and Landcare Builds Skills. Publishing regular newsletters about current topics and advertising relevant events. |
| Who | What |
|---|---|
| Department Primary Industry & Regional Development (DPIRD) | Turning the Dial, EvokeAG and side events. |
| WALN & National Landcare Network | Regular newsletters about current topics and advertising upcoming events that will build community. |
| Nindethana Seed | Native seed market. |
| Regen10 | International coalition to create a common framework to understand, measure & monitor regenerative farming outcomes at farm & landscape level to create alignment across farmers & the supply chain to gauge decision making & interventions (relevant for all themes) |
| Grains Industry Association of Western Australia (GIWA) | Five commodity councils (wheat, barley, oats, pulses and oilseeds councils). GIWA's five commodity councils represent the supply chains for each commodity. These councils meet regularly to identify and pursue opportunities and resolve supply chain constraints. |
| Who | What |
|---|---|
| Department of Primary Industry & Regional Development (DPIRD) | State NRM Community Stewardship Grants. |
| Mulloon Institute | Landscape rehydration, tree planting, holistic planned grazing across three farms, monitoring results. |
| Outback Carbon | Carbon farming projects (agroforestry); planting trees for carbon sequestration and wood products. Regenerative ag in the interrow, and opportunity for cropping. |
| Perth NRM | Natural Capital Accounting to underpin effort; creating a case for investment and prioritisation. |
| Greening Australia | Ecological restoration, biodiverse carbon, integrated regeneraive ag plantings. |
| Corrigin Farm Improvement Group (CFIG) | Restoring salt-affected land on farms as a carbon activity (saltbush for carbon project). |
| Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (DWER) | Stream restoration, revegetation, and fencing. |
| Will Easton | Asessing the impact of modern day farming practices on fauna & fungi, and how to reintroduce biodiversity. |
| Facey Group | Desalinisation, saltland farming, replacing chemical fertilisers with manure and compost. |
| Yarra Yarra Catchment Group | Saline land restoration for better habitat and production outcomes. |
| Biosecurity groups | Rabbit, pig, and large feral herbivore control |
| Who | What |
|---|---|
| Savory Institute | Holistic management training, Land to Market accreditation program. |
| DPIRD and GGA | Feed 365 project; creating resilient sheep production systems. |
| Western Australian Landcare Newtwork | Supporting on-ground activities through publicity and small grants. |
| Grower Group Alliance | Grain legumes project; incorporating legumes in a rotation to reduce inputs. |
| COBWA | Soil and plant health monitoring workshops; using monitoring tools to inform decision making. |
| DWER | Healthy Estuaries WA, Soilwise, Revitalising Geographe Waterways projects. |
| DPIRD & DWER | Fertiliser management programs. |
| DWER & Western Dairy | Dairy effluent management. |
| Sustainable Agriculture Facilitators | Roles supporting the ag industry to become more resilient by adopting sustainable farming practices. |
| Wilson Inlet Catchment Council (WICC) | Dung beetle mapping, monitoring, and colonisation. |
| University of Tasmania Institute of Agriculture & South Coast NRM | Understanding the benefits of planting environmentally friendly, bespoke species for carbon sequestration, i.e plant persistence, threatened species habitat, effective habitat condition. |
| Numerous | Carbon farming, virtual fencing |
| Who | What |
|---|---|
| WALN | Engagement with funders to run capacity building programs and networking events. |
| Maaman Maara Boodjar & Edith Cowan University | Increasing knowledge of Aboriginal land rehydration practices combined with holistic management education. |
| State NRM | Being equipped with evidence-based data before engagement with funders. |
| Commonland | Funding landscape-scale restoration. |
| Who | What |
|---|---|
| Perth NRM | Increasing Aboriginal involvement in monitoring activities. |
| Mulloon Institute | Developing co-design of education/knowledge sharing with First Nations people in landscape rehydration. |
| Northern Agricultural Catchments Council NRM | FRRR and Future Drought Fun maintaining community capacity. |
| Healing Country | Evaluation of cross-cultural initiatives involving the Noongar and farming communities. A Noongar community group or corporation promotes social, business, and land management networks across communities. Based in regional centres and extending across 2-3 locations where opportunities for promoting collaboration across communities is likely to reap rewards. |
| Who | What |
|---|---|
| CSIRO | Natural Capital Accounting frameworks, Ag 2050 Future Planning, Food Systems Horizons . |
| DWER & DPIRD | Fertiliser trials. |
| The Liebe Group & Grains Research & Development Corporation (GRDC) | Farming systems research, stubble management and soil. |
| DPIRD | Self-sustainable farm supply water (desalinisation). |
| CFIG and AgZero2030 | Independent advice, evidence on techniques, carbon, economics, regenerative agriculture. |
| DPIRD & GRDC | 5 year soil and water management research and development. |
| DPIRD and Department of Planning, Lands, and Heritage (DPLH) and Local Government Association | Identification of high quality agricultural land |
| Who | What |
|---|---|
| Nindethana Seed | Native seed market |
| Grain Industry Association of Westerm Australia (GIWA) | 5 commodity councils represent supply chains for each commodity. Councils meet regularly to identify and pursue opportunities and resolve supply chain constraints. |
| Regen10 | International coalition to create a common framework to understand, measure, and monitor regenerative farming outcomes at farm and landscape levels to create alignment across farmers and the supply chain to gauge decision making and interventions. |
Collective Impact Activity Form
Video by Simple Ben Stories
Collective Impact Roadshows
The purpose of the roadshow series was to inform stakeholders who could not attend, or were unaware of Collective Impact workshops of the project. The roadshows aimed to present project progress, generate feedback, spread the word, and garner further support.
Invitations were extended to key stakeholders who were seen as playing a vital role in the restoration of the South West WA environmental and farming landscape. These stakeholders predominantly included NRM groups, grower groups, local landowners and farmers.
Locations: 5 (Bunbury, Merredin, Corrigin, Albany, Dalwallinu)
Dates: Roadshows were held between July 18 and August 14, 2024
Attendance: 32 individuals
Feedback surveys received: 26
Km travelled: 2,600
RegenWA Events
Through the Restoration Impact Framework, RegenWA has partnered with a number of organisations to deliver events since the project began in 2023. These events have spanned formats such as webinars, field days, presentations, workshops, all with a focus on identifying and supporting farming practices that restore beneficial natural capital.
Events delivered so far include…
Event ID Event Name Location Partners 1 Tree Planting Gabalong Gabalong 2 Tree Planting Beverley NLE, Commonland 3 Cabbage Without The Baggage Margaret River Shire of Margaret River 4 Northern Regen Roundtable with Alejandro Carrillo Kimberly West Kimberley Land Conservation District Committee 5 2023 Biodiversity Conference Perth ReWild Perth 6 Future Farming with Bruce Maynard Wandering PHCC, WARLP 7 Western Australian Horticulture Update Perth Stonefruit WA 8 Film Screening – Rachel’s Farm Toodyay WA Regenerative Livestock Producers Inc 9 Accounting For Nature Training Northam Landcare Australia, WARLP 10 Farmers’ Sundowner Marybrook Geocatch 11 GRDC Updates Perth GRDC 12 Foliar Nitrogen and Nutrition Workshop Perenjori Yarra Yarra Catchment Management Group Inc. 13 Warren Agricultural Show Manjimup Warren District Agricultural Society 14 Bioagronomy Masterclass and Paddock Walk with Ray Archuleta Bridgetown COBWA 15 Landscape Rehydation Workshop Beverley Mulloon Institute 15 Landscape Rehydation Workshop Calingiri Mulloon Institute 15 Landscape Rehydation Workshop Quindaning Mulloon Institute 16 Biochar WA Roadmap Launch Perth Land Use Futures, Biochar Industry 17 Plan Your Farm Landscape Courtenay Lower Blackwood LCDC 18 Permaculture Design with Greg Knibbs Woodanilling Sandy Shackley 19 Landscape Rehydration for Small Landholders Armadale Armadale Gosnells Landcare Group 20 Native Grass Field Walk Merredin Wheatbelt NRM 21 Let’s Get Growing Gosnells City of Gosnells, Musuem of Perth 22 Accounting For Nature Workshop Geraldton NACC 23 Accounting For Nature Workshop Albany South Coast NRM 24 Accounting For Nature Workshop Williams PHCC 25 Rehydration Field Day Dandaragan Kathryn Hubble, Christine Smith 26 Biodynamics Workshop Bridgetown Sunnyside Farms, Galloway Springs 27 Grafting Workshop Marbelup Oranje Tractor Wines, Torbay Catchment Group 28 Perenjori Agricultural Show Perenjori Yarra Yarra Catchment Management Group Inc. 29 MILK with Matthew Evans Manmjimup 30 Nutrition Farming with Graeme Sait Gingin Vegetables WA, GGA Drought Hub 30 Nutrition Farming with Graeme Sait Manjimup Vegetables WA, GGA Drought Hub 31 Eco Orchids Workshop Marbelup Oranje Tractor Wines, Torbay Catchment Group 32 Dowerin Field Day Dowerin DPIRD, Alinta Energy 33 Secrets to Healthy Soils Esperance Mark Tupman, Esperance Shire 34 Seasonal Preparedness Workshop Kalgup Geocatch 36 Heavenly Hectares Lake Peron Lake Clifton Herron Landcare Group 38 WIG Field Day Newdegate Wheatbelt Integrity Group 39 SJ Foodie Bus Tour Serpentine Jarrahdale PHCC, SJ Food and Farm Alliance, Perth NRM
Attendees: 1090
Number of attendees who were farmers: 421 (37% farmers practicing regen ag, 24% farmers interested in regen ag)*
Different locations delivered in: 30
Feedback surveys collected: 410+
