Achieving effective implementation: an evaluation of a collaborative land use planning process.

This study attempts to mitigate problems in previous implementation studies by using three measures of implementation success. These include: objective assessment of progress in implementing recommendations, objective assessment of progress in achievement of planning objectives, and subjective assessments of key stakeholders' perceptions of implementation success. Nonetheless, the study has limitations. First, the results are from only one case study. Second, First Nations chose not to participate in the Kamloops LRMP process nor did they participate on the Kamloops Monitoring Table. Third, defining implementation success relies on subjective interpretation of objective monitoring data by government staff who prepared the monitoring reports, and perceptions of stakeholders. This allows for the introduction of bias. Therefore, further research on plan implementation that is based on a meta-analysis of a large set of case studies founded on objective as well as subjective data related to implementation success would be helpful.

Conclusion

Evaluation of plan implementation is a relatively neglected field in planning research. This paper has helped address this deficiency by reporting results from a comprehensive evaluation of the implementation of a unique plan. This study is unique in that it relies on both objective data on implementation and survey data from stakeholders. The results show that the plan was successfully implemented. The survey of actors engaged in implementation of this plan supports the findings in the implementation literature that there are a large number of criteria that must be met to achieve successful implementation. Underpinning all the other factors critical to implementation is the use of a collaborative planning process to develop the plan and to monitor the plan's implementation. Other studies have documented the benefits of CP in increasing the probability of developing a plan in the public interest and in stimulating additional social capital benefits related to improved stakeholder knowledge, skills, and relationships. This study documents further benefits of CP in achieving successful plan implementation. Implementation is a complex undertaking requiring attention to many variables. Although more research on implementation is required to produce definitive results, this study suggests that one key aspect of a successful implementation strategy is collaborative planning. Appendix 1: Effectiveness Assessment of KLRMP in Meeting Plan Objectives Environment Desired Outcomes Indicators Assessment 1. Ecosystems Healthy ecosystems * Biogeoclimatic zone [square root of] with a diversity representation in protected (may take several and abundance of areas years to achieve native species and results) habitats * Old forest management targets

by biogeoclimatic zone

* Animal species at risk

* Plants and plant communities

at risk 2. Soils Productive soils * Achievement of [square root of] with minimal soil site-disturbance limits for disturbance timber harvesting

* Construction of new forest

roads

* Landslides 3. Forests Healthy forest * Age class distribution [square root of] ecosystems with (note epidemic representation of * Incidence of insect infestation of natural attributes infestation pine bark beetle) and forest dependent species * Fire disturbance Sustainable and * Forest dependent species at productive forests risk with a natural mosaic of age classes 4. Grasslands Healthy grassland * Area of grasslands and other X (decrease in ecosystems with openings grassland areas, representation of increase in grassland * Noxious weed infestation noxious weeds) dependent species

* Grassland associated species

at risk

* Range and grassland condition 5. Riparian Properly * Forest Practices Code [square root of] functioning compliance related to riparian systems riparian areas

* Audits indicating riparian

concerns 6. Water Healthy watersheds * Roads deactivated for water [square root of] and stream-flow management control (note concerns regimes relating to water

* Turbidity; water flows allocation in

drier areas)

* Watershed assessments

* Fully allocated streams

* Ground water quality and

quantity 7. Wildlife A diversity and * Wildlife populations / (Note species abundance of wild with population fish populations and habitat and habitats concerns) 8. Fish A diversity and * Resident fish species and X (decrease in abundance of wild stocks at risk salmon and fish populations steelhead and habitats * Anadromous fish species populations)

(salmon and steelhead)

escapement

* Streams and lakes with water

flow or quality concerns 9. Protected Areas Protection of * Significant environmental [square root of] representative occurrences in protected area examples of B.C.'s natural diversity; recreational opportunities; cultural, heritage, and special features 10. Visually Sensitive Areas Landscapes managed * Achievement of visual quality [square root of] in accordance with objectives visual quality objectives Socioeconomic Desired Outcomes Indicators Assessment 11. Agriculture A prosperous * Agricultural Land Reserve [square root of] mining industry with access to * Grazing tenures Crown resources, especially land, * Grazing tenures that overlap water, and range protected areas land to support development * Irrigation water licenses Sustainable and * Range land, Farms productive agricultural and * Gross Domestic Product (GDP) range lands

* Employment 12. Minerals A prosperous * Investment / (Access to Crown mining industry land met; with access to * GDP and annual metal prices prosperous mining Crown land for industry not) exploration and * Employment development 13. Timber A prosperous * Timber harvesting land base [square root of] forest industry with a sustainable * Timber supply, harvest volume supply of timber

* Backlog of Nonsufficiently

Restocked (NSR) land

* Provincial government revenue

* GDP and annual lumber prices

* Employment 14. Tourism A prosperous * Room revenue [square root of] tourism industry offering high * Visitor volume quality, natural tourism * Commercial recreation tenures experiences

* Resource-based tourism A diverse range of operations tourism opportunities and * GDP uses across the landscape * Employment 15. Recreation A diverse range of * Recreation resources [square root of] recreation opportunities and * Recreation amenities uses across landscapes * Recreation use Preservation and management of high quality recreation resources 16. Communities Social and * Population [square root of], economic stability X Five outcomes

* Education level generally being Healthy and met, one not prosperous * Crime rate (clean drinking communities water and a stable

* Labor force and employment community water Stable or supply) increasing * Employment income employment

* Economic diversity Access to Crown land for community * Business start-ups and and industrial failures development

* Portion of land base in Clean, safe settlement use drinking water and stable community * Domestic water supply water supply

* Flooding occurrences Minimal risks to lives and property from flooding and erosion 17. Cultural Heritage Protection of * Archeological sites [square root of] important archeological * Traditional use studies sites