STRATEGIC MASTER PLANNING
What is a Strategic Master Plan (SMP)?
A Strategic Master Plan is a written confirmation of the landowner’s vision for the ranch. A SMP is a science based, comprehensive plan that integrates landowner objectives from the various ranch programs including natural resources, recreation, agricultural production, and human resources.
It guides communication and collaboration, which are essential to balance potentially competing interests for land use.
Why is it Valuable?
A SMP is instrumental in uniting employees from diverse programs and it provides a common link between the landowner, ranch manager, and staff. It provides for a critical, annual planning process and serves as the operations manual for the ranch.
What does an SMP Contain?
Background and current conditions for the property and operation
Establishment of a vision and goals for the operation
Identification of issues and opportunities facing the operation
Outline of programs and projects to reach established goals
Annual list of action items for each program
Supporting information like maps, information sources, literature, etc.
SMP PROCESS
-
Assessment:
An assessment of a property includes a “desktop review” that collects publicly available information (such as GIS data or wildlife population numbers) and client provided information (such as inventories or maps) and integrates this with a landowner’s goals and objectives to outline a path forward.
-
Site Visit:
At least one visit to the property is critical to the process. A field visit allows us to “ground-truth” the assessment, gather additional field information (such as photos or vegetation sampling) and, most importantly, to establish a relationship, face-to-face, with the management and staff.
-
1st Team Meeting:
At least one team meeting is important to familiarize everyone with the planning process and to orient everyone from staff to landowner towards a common goal. Most importantly, this meeting will incorporate input from everyone to develop program and project goals for use in developing a draft Strategic Master Plan.
-
Draft Strategic Master Plan:
Once everyone agrees on the direction for the property, we can begin drafting a Strategic Master Plan using information from the assessment, site visit, and first meeting. A finished draft will be sent out for review and comments to ensure that the plan is meeting expectations.
-
2nd Team Meeting:
A second team meeting is very helpful in fine-tuning the draft, verifying goals and objectives, and confirming details. It also provides a second chance to make any big modifications to the plan’s direction or the course for the property’s management.
-
Finalize Plan:
After a review of the draft plan and/or a second team meeting, a final draft of the plan will be completed and published along with any supporting or supplementary materials such as maps, planning tools or resources
-
Annual Planning Process
The annual planning process is the application of a Strategic Master Plan on the ground, converting planning into action. We will facilitate the first annual planning meeting, including the landowner, managers and staff, to assist in implementing the plan and making the “rubber meet the road”. We will facilitate the first annual planning meeting, including the landowner, managers and staff, to assist in implementing the plan and making the “rubber meet the road”
