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Evaluation
WA Wheatbelt Woodlands - Management and Restoration - After the Fence
Northam, WA, 17-18 March 2008 Moora, WA, 27-28 March 2008
Evaluation of the workshops
Both the workshops were considered a great success. Though small compared to some ANPC workshops, they were deliberately held in less populated centres and targeted to those working in a specific vegetation type. Twenty-two people attended the Northam workshop and 30 attended that held at Moora.
Comments and quotes
The following are quotes from the Evaluation Forms (Moora Northam) provided to all participants (‘comments and suggestions’ section).
Northam: A landmark event in the annals of Wheatbelt Woodland management! (WWF). A very well put-together program that has provided me with skills required and contacts to enable me to better manage our seven remnant woodlands. (Private landholder). Well organised – thanks! Particularly enjoyed the presenters (named several) and found their presentations entertaining and of value. (Local govt NRM) I loved the plant ID workshop and site-visits. (Private landholder, Landcare group) The topics covered and the case studies suited the workshop perfectly and the breadth of experience of the presenters was evident. (CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems). Lots of opportunity for questions, discussion, networking. Good time-keeping. (State Government)
Moora: Good practical workshop. (State Government). I learnt a lot and the range of speakers was good, covered a variety of topics. (Landcare Group). I appreciated the industry contacts for help with works. (Private landholder). Some reflective comments and suggestions were also useful:
Northam: Talk on more aspects of monitoring – hydrological aspects, more case studies. (State Government). Lots of scientific stuff. I liked practical stuff better. Not really aimed at landholders. (private landholder, Landcare group). Discussions could possibly be more interactive; some discussions could have been in the field with a more practical approach (e.g. different provenances, soil types, species). (Business/industry). The importance of provenance seed could be explained in a less technical way – as well as the genetic studies. (State Government). I believe there would be greater value in wrapping up the field exercise in observing/planning Wheatbelt woodland management/restoration by holding a formal session wherein an expert/practitioner leads everyone through the assessments and plans from the two woodland field sites. Participants could contribute and the aim could be to compile a management plan for the sites. (WWF)
Moora: I expected more landholders as these are a main target of the works. (Private landholder). I thought that the field exercise would have been better as a group discussion. (State Government). Field visit in one group to maximise access to expertise. (State Government). Have a landholder present a talk from their perspective. Research results or observations about value of exclusion of grazing in regeneration and weed control in bushland. (Catchment Council).
Analysis of evaluation responses
Evaluation forms (Moora Northam) were provided to all participants. 25 forms were returned by those participating in the Northam workshop, indicating that several presenters had also returned evaluation forms. The percentage return is therefore given below as 100% (the number submitted by presenters is unknown). 20 forms (67%) were returned by the Moora participants. The several questions/statements for each section of the form (structure, content, field trips, practical exercises, field visits, ongoing benefits) have been combined. The form provided five response choices for each question/statement: Strongly agree/ Agree/ Neither agree nor disagree/ Disagree/ Strongly disagree. Analysis of the returned forms is summarised below in Table 1 and Figs 1-3.
Table 1: Summary of evaluation analysis (Northam & Moora) For question details, refer to the Evaluation Form for each workshop (Moora Northam).
(a) Moora field visits: 6 forms had no responses for this section, probably as the participant missed the field trip or had to leave early. This figure is a percentage of the 14 responses recorded.
The evaluation forms also sought information on the respondent’s group or organisation. The figures below are from both workshops combined: - 5% Commonwealth Government - 42% State Government - 5% Local Government - 3% Educator/researcher - 3% Environmental consultant - 5% Business/industry - 8% Landcare - 3% Community Group - 18% Private Landholder - 3% Interested individual - 5% other.
From the above, 32% of respondents (Landcare, community groups, private landholders and interested individuals) work voluntarily in the conservation management of Wheatbelt Woodlands This reinforces the value and high degree of commitment of volunteer workers, a key focus group for this project.
Fig 1: Northam workshop – evaluation analysis For question details, see the Evaluation Forms (Moora Northam)
For question details, see the Evaluation Form (Moora Northam)
Fig 3: Both workshops combined – evaluation analysis
Analysis done by Merryl Bradley Summary prepared by Sally Stephens May 2008
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