Better Organizations for Nature:
Facilitating collaborative learning with a community of practice
Organizations do better when they can collaborate and learn with others. That’s why the Gosling Foundation has worked with the Sustainability Network to create the Better Organizations for Nature community of practice (BONCOP) in 2016, convening six nature organizations to learn about Engagement Organizing tools. So far, those organizations have applied what they’ve learned in a variety of ways.
For example, Birds Canada is using Engagement Organizing tools to boost participation in programs such as SwiftWatch — a citizen scientist program that brings volunteers together to steward sensitive bird habitats. Meanwhile, Couchiching Conservancy is finding better ways to recruit new supporters and move existing supporters up their engagement ladder.
Other members of the community of practice are leveraging technology. Consider the Bruce Trail Conservancy, which is using online tools to strengthen relationships with its members. Or the Nature Trust of New Brunswick, with its new database management software to mobilize support and link its snowflake- inspired stewardship groups across the province.
On the governance side, Nature Canada has taken a decentralized, volunteer-driven approach to its Save Bird Lives program, allowing them to expand into many more municipalities. Finally, rare Charitable Research Reserve has used Engagement Organizing tools to create a community-driven regional land trust filling an important gap in the community.