Creating Sustainable Communities. NC Campus Compact Civic Engagement Institute February 4, 2014

Transcription

1 Creating Sustainable Communities NC Campus Compact Civic Engagement Institute February 4, 2014

2 Who is Audubon International? Our Mission: To deliver high-quality environmental education and facilitate the sustainable management of land, water, wildlife, and other natural resources in all places people live, work, and play. 2

3 Where We Work Rio Verde, Arizona Audubon International positively impacts environmental health at multiple geographic scales, including individual properties, neighborhoods, communities, and ecoregions. 3

4 Who We Work With Golf courses Cemeteries Housing developments Ski areas Hotels and resorts School campuses Homeowners associations Municipalities 4

5 Regulatory, command-and-control approaches Federal, state and local laws and regulations Government regulatory and land-management agencies Public land acquisition Options for Conserving & Enhancing Natural Resources: Public funding for conservation (i.e., grants) Voluntary, incentive-based approaches Financial/tax incentives Non-profit and private organizations Education Voluntary industry standards Environmental certification

6 Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Existing property-scale facilities and developments Audubon Signature & Classic Program Planned property-scale facilities and developments Redesigned facilities and developments Audubon Green Lodging Program Our Environmental Certification Programs Existing hotels, resorts and other lodging facilities Audubon Sustainable Communities Program Existing Municipalities, private communities, lake associations, universities, etc. 6

7 Engaging Communities Environmental education Planning Technical Assistance Measuring Results 7

8 Sustainability: Three Components Environmental Wellbeing Social Wellbeing Economic Wellbeing

9 Promote appreciation Map a path Develop a plan Motivate action Facilitate implementation Evaluate results Foster accountability Sustainable Communities Program (SCP) 10

10 SCP Stages of Involvement STAGE ONE: Community Outreach, Education, and Involvement STAGE TWO: Sustainable Strategic Planning STAGE THREE: Implementing the Strategic Plan

11 Stage 1: Greening Your Community

12 Stage 1: Greening Your Community Demonstration Projects

13 Stage 1: Greening Your Community = Audubon International Green Community Award

14 Stage 2: Planning for the Future Adopt sustainability resolution/policy Assemble portfolio of existing projects/partners Engage community in defining vision Develop comprehensive plan (or add onto existing plan) 15

15 Stage 2: Planning for the Future By focus area: Community Sustainability Portfolio Assessment summary- # Practices in Place Successes & Opportunities Resources, Obstacles Costs, Funding Priority Level Plans and Maps Assign Responsibility Developing a community-wide Sustainability Plan

16 Stage 2: Planning for the Future Hold inclusive meetings to increase awareness, gather input on priorities, brainstorm project ideas, develop leadership recruit new participants Developing a community-wide Sustainability Plan Establish a Community Vision

17 Stage 2: Planning for the Future Planning for Sustainability Develop comprehensive plan or revise existing comprehensive plan Community wide vision and goals Set specific, time-bound objectives & deadlines Select sustainability indicators tied to each of 15 pre-defined focal areas AI staff thoroughly review proposed plan Audubon International Planning Award

18 1. Agriculture 2. Economic Development/Tourism 3. Education 4. Environmental issues 5. Governance 6. Public Health 7. Housing 8. Open Space and Land Use 9. Planning, Zoning, Building and Development 10. Population 11. Public Safety and Emergency Management 12. Recreation 13. Resource Use (water, energy, waste) 14. Volunteerism and Civic Engagement 15. Transportation At the Heart: Focal Areas Three groupings Economic Social Environmental 19

19 Stage 3: Sustainability in Action Implementation strategies, policies, practices Measuring indicators and progress toward targets Modify plan as needed Designation as a Certified Audubon Sustainable Community

20 Program Benefits Long-term Plan Sense of Place Sustainability Portfolio Issue-Specific Planning Verification Fewer maintenance costs Avoid pest problems Resilience to natural disasters Distinguish identity 21

21 in a Sustainable Community: Draws on local assets Economic Development Creates an economy that works for people Genuine Progress Indicator - GPI Draws innovators and investment through improved quality of life Green exports New industries want quality of life for employees Emphasizes ecotourism 22

22 In global market: 7% of market $77 billon Growing, likely to accelerate In United States: Ecotourism Industry $400 billion tourism industry; $200 billion for adventure travel $113 billion government tax revenue generated 43% vacations included ecotourism activities 23

23 Ecotourism Means REVENUE for local conservation MOTIVATION for ecological restoration and monitoring Increased APPRECIATION for nature Conservation through tourism. Doing it right means managing impacts Environmental - Pollution, degradation, litter Social - Cultural decay, power hierarchies Economic - Loss of revenue to outside parties 24

24 Case Studies

25 Henrietta, NY Rochester, New York Metropolitan Statistical Area Over 1 million people Median income: $27,123 Genesee River watershed Upstream of Lake Ontario/Rochester Henrietta, New York, is a suburban community of over 39,000 people Evolved from farming-dominated community Home to Rochester Institute of Technology Median income: $52,100

26 Henrietta, NY

27 Henrietta, NY Assets: Great educational system Diverse, active community Open space and park amenities River and floodplain Steady population growth

28 Henrietta, NY Chamber of Commerce U.S. EPA Rush-Henrietta School District Henrietta Foundation Inc. Cornell Cooperative Extension's 4-H program Henrietta Recreation Department Rush Henrietta Schools Business Partnership Finger Lakes Community College Rush Henrietta Rotary Henrietta Garden Club Henrietta Neighbors United

29 Henrietta, NY Community-wide Environmental Actions Rural residential zoning classification Seminars on green business practices Watershed monitoring Naturalizing habitat Wetland educational trails

30 Henrietta Pride Recognized with an Audubon Green Community Award in Henrietta is the first town in New York to receive the award. Past winners include Spruce Peak, Va., Williamston, N.C., and Sarasota County, Fla.

31 Where is Williamston? Williamston, NC

32 Williamston, NC Motivating Factors: Economic Agriculture and Preservation of Rural Heritage Natural Resources Roanoke River Forests and Open Space Water! Historic Downtown Population Challenges (Pop: 6,000) De-population Out-migration Change doesn t happen in a vacuum

33 One part survey, one part pledge Its role: Did residents have an awareness of objectively important environmental issues? What was important to them? Where they willing to do something about it? Governing through Citizens

34 Treasuring Home Survey Results More than 230 responses (4% of town population) Primary Environmental Concern Facing Community? WATER #1 Answer; >60% respondents; 3x more than #2 Litter and trash Loss of open space Agricultural concerns

35 Individual Actions People of Williamston pledged to: >70% - landscape with native plants >87% - reduce or eliminate use of toxic chemicals >85% - conserve water in the home 87% - recycle

36 Williamston Initial Results August 2006 Audubon Green Community Award (SCP Stage 1 Complete) September 2006 Williamston Enterprise front page article Citizen response: Great! How can I get involved? Great! What does this mean for me and the community? October 2006 One of three finalists in environmental stewardship category of 2006 Sustainability Awards hosted by Sustainable North Carolina

37 Williamston: Town Actions Passed water conservation ordinance and implemented incentive program for homeowner rebates and retrofits for low-flow fixtures Obtained more than $30,000 in grant money to fund demonstration projects at Williamston High School (rainwater capture, gray water reuse, groundwater recharge, biofilters, native plant landscaping, permeable pavement) Adopted environmentally-responsible management practices and policies on Town-owned land

38 Williamston Town Council passed the Williamstown 2020 Vision plan Williamston: Town Actions Comprehensive set of goals aligned with the focus areas Selected indicators to measure their success Received designation as a Certified Audubon Sustainable Community!

39 An SCP Plan

40 Goal 1 : Conserve/restore blocks of contiguous open space and wildlife movement corridors Objective 1A : Increase total number of acres managed as open space by 25% by 2020 Indicator 1Ai : Total amount of acres managed as open space Open Space & Land Use Possible Management Practices: Reducing the amount of land managed as turf grass, minimizing construction of new buildings and roads, avoiding ecologically valuable/sensitive areas 41

41 Goals: Make MEMBER an economically successful enterprise Have a net positive effect on greater economy of the REGION Encourage tourism by expanding tourist opportunities near Roanoke River (Williamston, NC) Indicators: % occupancy in lodging Tourism rates % profit increase in local businesses along the river corridor. Examples: Economic Development & Tourism Williamston, NC: Mayor Roberson encouraged businesses to extend operating days and hours and record profits for the first three years. After camping platforms and new boat ramps and boardwalks were installed, record profit change, if at all. Bait shops, Coffee shops, and refreshment stands recorded a significant increase in profit margins.

42 Governance Goals: Adopt policies and practices consistent with sustainability Purchase recycled, resource efficient products whenever possible Indicator: % products purchased by institution are recycled and/or resource efficient Result: Stowe, VT - 95% of the buildings purchase recycled or resource efficient products including cleaning products and recycled paper product. 43

43 Transportation Goals: Mitigate traffic congestion and parking management issues Encourage use of public transportation, carpooling, hybrid use, alternative transportation (pedestrian, bicycle) Indicators: Avg. and total annual PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION ridership LOCAL Recreation Path extended? Y/N Establish alternative transportation incentives, Future years: Rate of incentive use Results: Stowe, VT 2008 ridership was 42,167; 2009 ridership was 45,116, a 6% increase. 44

44 Member Services: Fact Sheets 45

45 University Roles Opportunities for Universities: Improve campus sustainability Engage campus community in comprehensive planning and implementation Encourage community to pursue sustainability Provide expert input to community process Develop indicators to measure progress Communicate successes to a broader audience 46

46 Recruit your Community! Participation incentive available 47

47 AICEP 48

48 Audubon International Certified Environmental Professional (AICEP) Developed for individuals seeking to increase their capacity to sustainably manage natural resources Management of recreational, agricultural, commercial, residential, and industrial lands Individuals acquire AICEP credit through academic credit or professional training (past and future) i.e., academic credits earned in a bachelor s program or education points gained from a conference workshop may count toward AICEP requirements 49

49 AICEP 6 concentrations: Golf Course Management Land Management Building Operations Management Hospitality and Tourism Management Sustainable Community Planning Architecture and Design 270-hour AICEP training program: Curriculum (academic, professional, or hybrid tracks) credits Practicum (45-90 hours/3-6 credits) AICEP Qualifying Exam 50

50 AICEP Opportunities for Universities/Professional Orgs: Tell your students! Become a preferred provider! Endorse AICEP! Develop industry-specific course for a concentration in collaboration with AI! 51

51 THANK YOU! Questions? 52

52 Contact Information: SCP: Joanna Nadeau Ext. 124 AICEP: Laura Karosic Troy, NY 53