Sustainable Indicators Conference - Selwyn Stewardship Monitoring: Project Plan

To identify ways to improve profit and the land and avoid any adverse environmental impact.

To implement and refine farm production and environmental monitoring techniques for arable, sheep and beef and dairy farmers.
To implement and refine environmental monitoring techniques appropriate to the needs of the Selwyn community.
For individuals and groups in the Selwyn District to take up appropriate monitoring techniques.
To obtain data from monitoring throughout New Zealand and disseminate it throughout the Selwyn District.
To develop a co-operative and inclusive approach to all involved in the project.
To obtain sufficient funding and support to ensure the project is successful in the long term.
To assist farmers to be proactive in managing their future, especially the impact of environmental issues on farming options.

This is a farmer and community led project because it is those people who are pivotal to changes in land and environmental management. Because they lead the project, they are more likely to identify develop and adopt appropriate monitoring and management techniques.
Voluntarily adopted targets in land and environmental management are like]y to be at a higher level than standards enforced by an external agency.
Implementing appropriate monitoring techniques will allow the identification of long term trends in the state of the farm and the environment.
Monitoring the whole system (production, profit, environment and asset) allows the identification of linkages between management practices and changes in the farm ecosystem.
Where management practices are clearly shown to have benefits in improving the sustainability of farming they are likely to be widely adopted

Head organisation:	North Canterbury Federated Farmers.
Role:	Provide banking and financial services and provide national linkages as appropriate.

Project Leadership:	Selwyn Stewardship Steering Committee.
Role:	Provide leadership, develop policies and procedures, approve and manage budgets ensure project is achieving its goals and objectives.

Operational Decision Making:	Arable, Sheep and Beef, Dairy and Community monitor groups.
Role:	Select monitor sites and monitor methods and ensure monitoring is carried out as planned.

Resource People:	Scientists and consultants.
Role:	Provide advice on monitoring techniques, implement monitoring as contracted by steering committee.

Facilitators:	Provide facilitation, publicity and secretarial services as contracted.

Group Chairperson:	Manage the monitor group to develop and implement a monitoring programme.

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