Identifying Key Players

A key player is any party who will work on the project, be directly or indirectly affected by it, or have legal jurisdiction or influence over some or any part of it (Ritchlin 2001). Identifying and contacting key players early on will help determine if your plans are feasible, and will also provide avenues for obtaining the resources and information that you will need.

Key Players in Restoration:
(adapted from Ritchlin 2001)

• Landowners. Whether the landowner is government or a private individual, you will need their support. In the case of private landowners, the booklet Community Stewardship, from the Stewardship Series, has a section on working with private landowners. The Stewardship Series also has specific guides for landowners, planners, and developers. If your site is on private land, you will want to involve the landowner as much as possible in order to allow them to develop a sense of stewardship of your project.
• Various levels of government (municipal, regional, provincial, and federal). Government staffers often are able to offer valuable technical advice, as well as provide information like maps, plans, reports, and aerial photographs. Depending on your site and what you plan to do, the government may have jurisdiction to regulate your activities (see 'Permits and Approvals'). See Table 3 below for an idea of which government agencies you might involve.
• First Nations with an interest or claim in the area. First Nations should be consulted in the earliest stages of restoration planning, as they often have land claims on the property and may have their own plans for the area, and will take an interest in restoration activities taking place in their traditional territories. They often provide unique perspectives on the history and ecology of the potential restoration site, and can provide resources such as maps, plans, reports, air photos, expertise, and equipment. Many restoration projects incorporate First Nations workers in the implementation phase.
• Local industry that depends on the site. This includes forestry companies that have rights to Crown timber, ranchers on Crown land, and any other commercial interest whose plans or livelihood might be affected. These companies may influence what is possible on your site, and may also be in a position to provide valuable information (e.g., maps, plans, reports, air photos), expertise, equipment, and other resources.
• Environmental, civic or social groups in your community. These groups are usually able to provide information and resources such as volunteers, as well as publicity, and access to decision-makers.
• Academic experts. Many academics are active in the field of restoration, and experts in such fields as botany or hydrology may give valuable input to your plans.
• Funding agencies (see Finding Funding).