USGS Home
Contact USGS
Search USGS

In 1987, the PPJV Board established the Communications Committee and gave the committee the following assignment:

"The Communication Committee plans, develops, conducts, and evaluates a communications/education program for internal and external audiences of the PPJV. The program will include the development of objectives and strategies, target audiences, communication products, and evaluation. The committee promotes the development of networking systems for information and education programs, extension programs, and media and environmental education efforts at the Federal, state and private levels for PPJV communications efforts."

Several basic goals will guide the committee's work with conservation education program development over the next five years:

	Develop awareness of the value of natural resources and the complex processes that maintain them.
	Develop educational messages on threats to the environment and what individuals and organizations can do to better manage and maintain natural resources.
	Motivate positive action to change and improve environmental management.

Additionally, goals originally developed for the PPJV Communications Plan will continue to guide program development in the next five years:

	Generate understanding, involvement, funding, and support among constituents to achieve the goals and objectives of the PPJV and the NAWMP.
	Educate about wetland values and how best to undertake management and protection efforts.
	Develop a public wetlands conservation ethic and increase citizen participation in wetlands conservation.

NEW AREAS OF EMPHASIS

	Meeting information needs of customers and clientele.
	Developing community-based approaches to local issues and problems that can attract dollars and wide-spread support.
	Identifying opportunities for creating partnerships to enhance management of wildlife habitat.
	Developing holistic thinking and sound biological data for wetland restoration and habitat management.
	Encouraging responsible, informed decision making about managing wildlife habitat in the Prairie Pothole Region.

TARGET AUDIENCES

For the purposes of initiating the PPJV communications efforts, primary target audiences were landowners and agricultural groups, the media, and members of private conservation organizations (primarily local) with conservation interests.

As the PPJV communications strategy moves into its second phase, target audiences will be:

	Landowners, ranchers, farmers, agricultural and local conservation groups
	Agencies and organizations that are existing or potential partners in PPJV activities
	Legislators and Congressional Contacts
	Educational institutions K-12 and Universities
	Local and regional media outlets
	Land use decisionmakers

PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT

Efforts also included education, primarily in the form of technical materials for wildlife managers and landowners, and specific educational materials for K-12 educational audiences.

When the Service private lands enhancement program became a reality, communications and educational efforts began to work hand in hand with the program, resulting in several products such as the wetland easement brochure, wildlife extension brochures, wetland restoration videos, and Wildlife Project Idea Book that were produced in response to direct requests from landowners and private lands enhancement specialists.

As the PPJV communications plan moves into the next phase, (a 5-year window), activities and efforts will continue to be developed to address:

	needs identified in the private lands enhancement program;
	needs identified through surveys and communication with target audiences; and
	perceptions and emerging perspectives that affect the course of wildlife habitat management.

As part of the communications strategy, the "Theme For The Year" will be selected, and products, public events, and information will be developed to reflect that theme:

1994	Year of the Shorebird—Managing Wetlands, Waterfowl, and Shorebirds—A Systems Approach
1995	Alternative Strategies for Private Landowners To Manage Set Aside Lands
1996	Managing Ecosystems—The Watershed Approach
1997	Think Globally, Act Locally—Affecting The Community Involvement Process on Behalf of Wildlife
1998	Community Conservation Planning—Land Use Decision Making

RESPONSIBILITIES FOR DISTRIBUTION OF INFORMATION TO ENSURE COMMUNICATIONS

	The Region 6 NAWMP Office and the Communications Committee will be responsible for developing and distributing information and products to all Board members, State Action Group Coordinators, Other Joint Ventures, the NAWMP office, other Service Regional Offices, private lands enhancement coordinators, national and regional political and media contacts where possible, national and regional outdoor and agricultural magazines where possible.
	Management Board members will be responsible for distributing information and products to their respective organizations and State Action Groups.
	State Action Group Coordinators will be responsible for developing and distributing information and products to all State Action Group members, local media outlets, political constituencies, agricultural and conservation groups, and Cooperative Extension Coordinators.
	State Action Group members will be responsible for distributing information and products to their respective organizations and personal contacts in the local community and target audiences.
	PPJV Flagship Project Coordinators will be responsible for distributing information and products to local landowners, local and regional media, political constituencies, and agricultural and conservation groups.

All PPJV partners are encouraged to become a member of an information distribution network of some type to ensure as broad a coverage as possible of PPJV information and education materials.

ACCOMPLISHMENT REPORTING

Accomplishment information is critical for budget development and to increase support on behalf of the PPJV and the NAWMP.

The PPJV will use the International Tracking System as a mechanism to track habitat and dollar contributions to the PPJV and the NAWMP.

State Action Group Coordinators, together with Service Private Lands Coordinators and PPJV coordinators, will provide accomplishment information for development of all national and PPJV Accomplishment Reports.

ACTION ITEMS TO BE IMPLEMENTED

• WORKING WITH THE MEDIA

  Target:	Local and regional media outlets, including press, radio and television
  Responsible:	State Action Group Coordinators, Board Members, Flagship Project Coordinators, and local project managers will be primarily responsible for local and regional media contact.
  Actions:		Establish and/or enhance personal contacts on local and regional basis
  		Ensure press releases, status reports, and general information are provided on regular basis
  		Invite to become members of State Action Groups
  		Invite to all special events, dedications, open houses
  		Invite to special conferences, seminars, tours, and workshops
  		Look for opportunities to involve the media; highlight local problems being resolved by local solutions
  		Organize and conduct media tours

• WORKING WITH THE AGRICULTURAL PRESS

  Target:	Agricultural press and television/radio
  Responsible:	Flagship coordinators, State Action Group Coordinators, and local project managers
  Actions:		Look for opportunities to collaborate and cooperate. Provide articles and information, fact sheets.
  		Seek interviews with local outlets (written and radio/television)
  		Work with County Extension Agents to provide information for weekly columns

• BROCHURES AND PUBLICATIONS

  	Continue producing "PROGRESS NOTES" and support development and distribution of additional information items including inserts, brochures, news notes and action alerts on items pertinent to the PPJV.
  	Title:	Locating and Managing Islands To Enhance Waterfowl Production
  	Target:	Managers and landowners
  	Responsible:	Communications Committee — Messmer; January 1994
  	Title:	Locating and Managing Peninsulas to Enhance Waterfowl Production
  	Target:	Managers and landowners
  	Responsible:	Communications Committee — Messmer; November 1994
  	Title:	Progress Notes
  	Target:	Internal & External PPJV partners
  	Responsible:	Communications Committee — Lively; June & December
  	Title:	Partners for Wildlife Calendar
  	Target:	Landowners and partners
  	Responsible:	Communications Committee — Lively, Messmer; Annually
  	Title:	Tips and Guidelines On Conducting Partnership Appreciation Events
  	Target:	Managers and Sportsman's Organizations
  	Responsible:	Communications Committee — Lively, Messmer, Madsen; FY94
  	Title:	Conservation "Newspapers"
  	Target:	Grades 5-8
  	Responsible:	Communications Committee — Lively, Pease; Annually
  	Title:	Predation Management — Status of Predators and Predator Management in the PPJV (Research Data and Tips on Non-lethal Predation Management)
  	Target:	Landowners, Sportsman and Wildlife Clubs
  	Responsible:	Communications Committee — Messmer; FY95
  	Title:	Shorebird Management On Private Lands, (Accompanies Shorebird Video)
  	Target:	Landowners, managers, university classrooms
  	Responsible:	Communications Committee & Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network FY 94/95
  	Title:	The Watershed Approach — What Is It? Why Is It Important?
  	Target:	Land use decision makers
  	Responsible:	Communications Committee, FY 95
  	Title:	Incorporating Wildlife Concerns Into Land Use Planning
  	Target:	Land use decision makers
  	Responsible:	Communications Committee, FY 95
  	Title:	Alternatives for Landowners When Set Aside Programs Come To An End
  	Target:	Landowners
  	Responsible:	Communications Committee, FY 95
  	Title:	Cattail Management — Maximizing Wetland Productivity
  	Target:	Landowners
  	Responsible:	Communications Committee, FY 95
  	Title:	Minimizing Impacts of Agricultural Practices on Prairie Potholes
  	Target:	Landowners
  	Responsible:	Communications Committee, FY 95

• VIDEOS AND AUDIO VISUALS

  	Title:	The Shorebird Video — continuing The Shorebird Education Project
  	Target:	Landowners, managers, high school and university classrooms
  	Responsible:	Communications Committee, Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network, National Ecology and Research Center, FY 94/95

  
  

  NOTE:

  All products/materials produced as part of the PPJV communications strategy will use the following phase as part of the credits or acknowledgement sections: "This -------- has been developed in conjunction with or by the U.S. Prairie Pothole Joint Venture, a component of the North American Waterfowl Management Plan."

• CONFERENCES and PUBLICATIONS

  	Title:	Planning and Implementing Communications in the PPJV—Article and Presentation at North American Wildlife Management Conference and publication in Wildlife Society Bulletin
  	Target:	Conservation Community
  	Responsible:	Messmer and Lively, FY 95

• WORKSHOPS AND SEMINARS

  	Title:	Fund Raising and Partnership Enhancement Workshops (Using New Fundraising Manual)
  	Target:	Service employees, State Action Group members, local conservation groups
  	Responsible:	Communications Committee, RW R6 Challenge Grant Coordinator, Service Office of Training and Education, FY95

• FIELD TOURS AND DEMONSTRATIONS — Experience in the PPJV in the last several years indicates that field tours and demonstrations are valuable tools in disseminating educational messages and materials.

  State Action Groups, state and Federal agency personnel, private conservation group employees and local partners in PPJV activities are encouraged to use field tours and demonstration seminars on a regular basis.

  The following are several focus areas for field tours and demonstrations:

  	Congressional and Washington Office oriented—including North American Wetlands Council site visits, private lands tours, special invitations to new Federal, state, and private organization personnel
  	Non-governmental oriented—including conservation groups at a regional and national level
  	Landowner technical seminars and demonstration project tours
  	Landowner recognition days

  
  

• DEDICATIONS AND OPEN HOUSES — These events have been successfully used in the PPJV to bring together landowners, agency personnel, private conservation groups, volunteers, and the media.

  Dedications and open houses are encouraged. They increase good working relations with local partners, and stimulate new partnerships at local and regional levels. These are excellent opportunities to invite media participation.

  Experience has shown that planning is critical for successful events. Early involvement by all joint venture partners and good publicity are crucial.

  
  

• FAIRS, MALLS, SPORTSMAN'S SHOWS — PPJV partner involvement with fairs, mall shows indicates that these types of events provide visibility, one-to-one contacts with a great variety of the general public, and are good outlets for a variety of informational products.

  Participation in these events is encouraged where possible. The PPJV Communications Committee will support and provide materials where available. Local project leaders are encouraged to develop exhibits pertinent to their areas.

  
  

• CEREMONIES, RECOGNITION AND AWARDS — Recognition of individuals and organizations that have contributed to the PPJV and who are involved in unique and creative efforts should be publicly recognized for those efforts. The PPJV has several awards which may be used to recognize outstanding efforts:

  The Professional Award (Ruddy)
  Presented to a wildlife professional that has made an outstanding contribution toward furthering the goals of the PPJV and the NAWMP.

  The Stewardship Award (Mallard)
  Presented to a landowner (steward) in each of the PPJV partner states, who has made an outstanding contribution toward restoring, creating, or enhancing wildlife habitat in support of the goals of the PPJV and the NAWMP.

  Group or Organization Award (Pintail)
  Presented to a group or organization which has made an outstanding contribution to further the goals of the PPJV and the NAWMP.

  Communications Award
  Presented to a group or individual that has made an outstanding contribution to further the goals of the PPJV and the NAWMP through communications activities.

  Nominations must be received by February 1st annually. Award winners will be announced at the Spring meeting of the PPJV Board.

  
  

NEW COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES

WORKING ACROSS THE BORDERS — SHARING IDEAS WITH CANADA AND MEXICO

The following are several areas where information can be shared internationally:

	Progress Notes—add information and special notes (Alberta Accomplishment Report and Western Hemisphere Information).
	Query Canada/Mexico for information and educational materials being developed—share educational products from PPJV and Canada/Mexico joint ventures.
	Utilize Waterfowl 2000 and highlight international cooperation efforts.
	Incorporate cross-border programs and ideas where possible.

EVALUATION

All products have been, and will continue to be, targeted to specific audiences. In the case of the Partners For Wildlife Calendar, a specific formal evaluation and survey are currently being carried out.

"Products" continue to be an important element of the PPJV program and our experience indicates that "Progress Notes," the Partners for Wildlife Calendar, the "newspapers," the "Do Your Part" video, the Pesticide training program, and other types of materials that can be used in education and training settings are most often requested.

Informal inquiries have been received from several graduate students regarding a survey and evaluation of the PPJV communications program. To date, no formal agreements have resulted, and the offer remains open.