Frank Weisenberger Consulting supports and empowers Indigenous communities and conservation organisations with the planning, implementation, and evaluation of cultural and natural resource management programs.
With a focus on community ownership, Frank Weisenberger Consulting uses the Open Standards for the Practice of Conservation (Conservation Standards) and its adaptation Healthy Country Planning as tools to support decision making processes of a project. The Conservation Standards and Healthy Country Planning help projects to bring together indigenous/community knowledge and western science in a highly participatory planning process for improved long term conservation outcomes.
Profile
Frank Weisenberger is a planning professional, specialised in Indigenous issues, project management, community consultations, stakeholder engagement and meeting facilitation. Equipped with a tertiary background in Applied Geography, Anthropology and Tourism Management, Frank has spent the past twelve years working extensively with Indigenous communities across Australia and globally on conservation planning and strategic natural and cultural resource management programs.
Our Approach
Frank Weisenberger Consulting uses the Open Standards for the Practice of Conservation (Conservation Standards) and the adaptation Healthy Country Planning. The Conservation Standards and Healthy Country Planning draw on the collective experience of adaptive managers and robust strategic planning approaches from various industries and through participatory planning develop adaptive management plans with local communities and stakeholders. Language, facilitation and tools are tailored to specific community needs and focus on engagement, participation and empowerment.
“Frank Weisenberger recently assisted Yanunijarra Aboriginal Corporation in reviewing the ngurrawarnti wulyu martunupurru Healthy Country Plan and supported the Ngurrara Ranger Program in developing a robust MERI framework for our Warlu Jilajaa Jumu Indigenous Protected Area. These documents help Yanunijarra AC to ensure Traditional Owners guide the work of our Rangers and that the Ngurrara Ranger Program effectively looks after Country – empowering Ngurrara Traditional Owners while responding to the needs of our partners and funders.”
Review of Indigenous Protected Area Management Plans
Addressing complex systems like the environment, community and culture, plans of managements for Indigenous Protected Areas need to be adaptive - and as such reviewed from time to time to ensure that the plan is still appropriate for the context.
This PDF resource (DOWNLOAD HERE) shows how the tools of the Open Standards for the Practice of Conservation / Healthy Country Planning can help Indigenous Protected Area projects through the process of monitoring, evaluation, reporting and improvement (MERI).
Find here great online resources on adaptive management, spatial data and monitoring and evaluation.
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