The ILM Shared Footprints Awards are Emerald Certified. What this means is that these awards will be reviewed and adjudicated by the Emerald Awards judges.
These judges will determine the finalists and award recipients based on how your project meets the standards of the Emerald Awards, as well as how your project addresses the Integrated Land Management outcomes and principles.
The most important criterion is the demonstration of a reduction of footprint; human-caused disturbance on the land is reduced in relation to the disturbance that would have occurred without integration. This means that measuring and monitoring should occur and be presented as part of the nomination package.
The Principles of ILM
The nominated project should demonstrate the principles of ILM in action. Specifically, the project:
- is comprehensive and balanced in the assessment of the values, benefits, risks, cumulative effects (environmental and socioeconomic) and trade-offs relevant to the operational scale being considered, while focused on footprint reduction.
- must be collaborative and inclusive, proactively seeking out timely engagement, sustained relationships and partnerships among participants.
- shows responsibility and accountability for decisions and actions shown, which are underpinned and demonstrated by a stewardship ethic with regard to the maintenance of values associated with land and resources.
- is consistent with the direction provided through guiding policies, plans and decisions, and activities reflect this direction.
- is informed by knowledge and science. Information contributed to better understanding of the potential consequences of options and provided the foundation for informed and prudent decisions.
- uses adaptive management has been applied to continuously improve tools and processes, while identifying information gaps and other needs and seeking to fill them.
- demonstrates knowledge and understanding of the roles and responsibilities related to the achievement of ILM outcomes. These roles and responsibilities are transparent, clearly communicated to all land users and managers, and performed in a timely manner.
- must be respectful of the diverse values, interests, rights, and knowledge of participants.
Additional Considerations
In addition to demonstrating ILM principles in action, the project must also demonstrate:
* that barriers (if any) were overcome and contributed to project learnings
* that the project process, application, planning, approach, technology or concepts were innovative and differed from business-as-usual.
* that the project communications have been clear and effective. How results were shared, how audiences were educated or how this work has lead by example. Can the process followed be used as a prototype for others to use in future footprint reduction projects?