Across the province, municipalities and producer groups have hired over 20 new conservation technicians to manage extension activities and conservation issues in their areas. The AESA (Alberta Environmentally Sustainable Agriculture) Program is providing funding towards staff and extension programs.
"The main goal of these newly created positions is to encourage producers to adopt beneficial management practices that relate to the environment," explains Dale Chrapko, Provincial Conservation Coordinator in Vegreville. "Our goal is to provide this group with the best information we can and to provide training in the different areas they will deal with in their positions." One of the first priority training opportunities identified was riparian and grazing management.
"We worked with the Cows and Fish Riparian program staff to facilitate the riparian training and development of the new technicians through two-day workshops in four locations, hands-on field sessions and one-to-one individual follow-up," says Chrapko. The individual follow-up will continue throughout the summer and into next year.
The workshops provided participants with the opportunity to learn about the Cows and Fish Riparian program and a general understanding and awareness of riparian areas and their management. "Part of our role as facilitators is to share what we’ve learned in our experience working with individuals and communities in riparian management," says Greg Hale, Cows and Fish Southern Program Coordinator. "We share our experience and understanding of the general principles that are successful in working with individual producers, and then getting them to work collectively as a working group in a watershed."
Hands-on field days focusing on riparian health assessment methodology were held in 3 of the 4 locations, the south was snowed out at the end of May. That group selected another day to spend in the field with a Cows and Fish field inventory crew. "During the field session, we wanted to provide some hands-on knowledge of what to look for when at a stream, lake or wetland and what kind of information to collect for a health assessment," explains Norine Ambrose, Cows and Fish Program Manager. "This information will help them both increase their own knowledge, and help them more knowledgeably work with local landowners or watershed groups."
Cows and Fish Riparian Management Workshop Northern Region May 2002
One of the key roles the new technicians will play in riparian management is as the local link. "Our program tends to be the catalyst that goes in and gets people and communities motivated and aware of issues and changes they can make," says Hale. "Often the turnaround for us to get back to those communities can be lengthy because of the number of communities we are working with." The new technicians are able to fill that gap by providing the day-to-day and ongoing follow-up. "Part of our role is to help them understand what they need to work on and how to integrate the riparian management with other issues in their community programs," he adds.
All of the technicians will have the opportunity for one-to-one follow-up with Cows and Fish staff for on-site visits with producers and groups working on riparian management issues. "The on-site visits often include other resource management agency staff who have expertise in specific areas," says Ambrose. "For example, if we’re talking to a landowner about water development options, we would likely invite a PFRA representative to be there as well. This will expand the network for the technicians and help them know who to call when they need information on a specific area."
Corinne Konynenbelt is the new Municipal Conservation Specialist with the MD of Taber and the County of Warner. "The Cows and Fish training was very beneficial," she says. "The workshop provided useful background information and management strategies, and the hands-on field session brought it all together." Konynenbelt spent a day in the field with the Cows and Fish crew learning to conduct a health assessment. "That experience will better prepare us when we’re out talking to producers and answering questions," she adds. Having the contacts and backup of Cows and Fish staff like Greg Hale are important to Konynenbelt as she takes on her new role in the two municipalities.
"We’re also starting to integrate ourselves with other initiatives, and are working with the technicians on planning and facilitation meetings," explains Hale. "This helps everyone understand what has already been done, the strategic planning that is in place and help groups move forward quicker." This sharing of knowledge, expertise and experience helps new staff take proven tools and strategies that work and tailor them to their own workplans. This integrated approach ensures a more unified strategy when working with individuals and groups on riparian management and other conservation issues.
Upcoming AESA training opportunities
"Priorities for AESA training focuses on the four key elements of AESA, plus skill development," explains Dale Chrapko, Provincial Conservation Coordinator in Vegreville. Riparian Management training workshops from Cows and Fish, and Newsletter development workshops have already been offered.
"The next high priority training opportunity is on evaluation, and those workshops are underway," says Chrapko. This workshop provides information to participants not only on evaluating the effectiveness of their individual programs, but also the broader AESA evaluation and expectations of all initiatives.
Other upcoming workshops will focus on nutrient management, grant applications and marketing, greenhouse gas mitigation and various Best Management Practices (BMP) Manuals under the Environmental Farm Plan Program. "On July 26, an AESA Green Day was held as part of the annual Ellerslie Diagnostic School to provide training specifically on diagnostics for conservation cropping issues," he adds. Other training will be developed as needed, and special sessions to introduce other resource agencies such as Department of Fisheries and Oceans, will be planned. Watch for information on upcoming training opportunities.
For more information, contact: Dale Chrapko |