United States Department of Agriculture
Natural Resources Conservation Service
Social Sciences Team
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What makes locally led conservation projects successful?

Locally led conservation planning requires involving people and organizations in the communities' planning process and working to successfully execute a long-range plan.
This self-scoring evaluation asks about elements that are part of the locally planning process. The nine elements used in the evaluation include:
1. The Nature Of Communities.
2. Community Issues Identification.
3. Community Profiling.
4. Addressing Community Issues.
5. Power in Communities.
6. Preparing to Work with Underserved Audiences.
7. Networks and Collaborations.
8. Effective Community Facilitation.
9. Conflict Management.

How to Take the Evaluation
Typically, locally led planning takes place in a geographic location such as a conservation district or a county. In this large an area, there may be a variety of communities that make up a district or county. These communities can be geographically large or small, heavily or lightly populated, with or without significant resource problems. Each community has its own set of leaders, social networks, non-profit organizations, commercial leaders, social norms, values, and economic emphasis.
For each evaluation (up to five can be completed), select one community or one county or one district and respond to the questions with the characteristics of that area and, most importantly, your locally led planning effort in mind. You can respond to the questions as if your locally led community planning effort occurred in the past, present, or even the future.
Please respond to each question based on your best knowledge.

Feedback
After you complete the evaluation, you will receive scores for each of the nine sections that will translate into "A", "B", "C", "D", or "F", just like the grades you received in school.
If you need improvement in any area, then you will be able to download a PowerPoint on this specific topic that has visuals along with slide notes that may enhance your knowledge. Obviously going through a PowerPoint and/or reading literature on a topic is not the same as attending a training session in which you interact with a knowledgeable instructor and other participants. Contact the Social Sciences Team at frank.clearfield@gnb.usda.gov if you have questions on receiving additional assistance.