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Things to be thought about

 Strategic plan or ...?

There are a nunber of possibilities:

  1. a strategic plan,
  2. a community mobilisation,
  3. a funded political approach:

BLG could consider influencing or advocating to key influencers and funding bodies. This may raise the issues and cause these parties to act, but they will each determine what to do, how to do it and do things on their terms. BLG may or may not be involved in these.

We can attempt to document the “right” theory and then “market” this to individual landholders. Or we can undertake a campaign that creates a plan for each property, gives landholder the skills they need to implement this and aims to get widespread, concerted action over a relatively short period of time.

Planning and Preparation for local action:
  • It’s easy to say “Identify ALL rabbit habitat …” – much harder in practice so what is the aim?
  • Clearing habitat asap …” – in some cases this is indigenous vegetation that cannot be cleared. This is also easier said than done without a scorched earth practice … which creates other problems of weed incursion and bare earth.
  • The Peninsula has many dirt roads that are designated as native habitats. These are typically overgrown and have the most active rabbit harbours – it will be a major challenge to get CoGG to change policy in this area.
  • The BLG gives grants to people to create what, sometimes, become rabbit habitat.

In my view, planning and preparation are the area where BLG can add most value. Surely it makes sense for a few people to skill up on the key things that need to be done to make a difference – what to look for, how to map warrens, how to register and who with, how to get Indigenous input, how to smoke a warren etc. This can partly be provided by templates, but it arguably needs a human interface to help adapt and bring neighbours together.

'Who' is to be involved?

BLG should be aiming at helping everybody, not excluding people so, it’s about trying to find a way to do this. Without support, unless people are really passionate and motivated, even planning steps will put most people off doing anything – it’s too hard.

As many landholders as possible are needed to act (in ways that suit their circumstances) in a big attempt to reduce rabbit populations. Once engaged, they need to be connected in the long term, with appropriate follow up action.