Results of the Countdown 2010 Survey 2007
> 16 April 07
The Countdown 2010 Secretariat sent out a survey to all its partners in February 2007. 39 completed surveys have been returned in total, ie. one in five partners provided us with valuable feedback. While the survey cannot be considered representative, it nevertheless resulted in: A better understanding of needs and backgrounds of partners and feedback and ideas for Countdown 2010’s operations and strategies. A big thanks for all your comments, ideas and suggestions!
This document provides an overview of the results – and strategic responses to the survey. We in the Countdown 2010 Secretariat are looking forward to keeping this debate alive. Send us an email, or leave a comment at the bottom of this page.
Partners of Countdown 2010 are diverse
Most Countdown 2010 partners work at the national level, and most of them characterize themselves as civil society. Local and regional authorities and private business remain minorities, but are strongly engaged in the initiative. This distribution also shows when asked for the main targets for information exchange: National governments and NGOs feature highly, while the general public and the European Commission are less represented.
Countdown 2010 partners communicate biodiversity
On average, each Countdown 2010 partner reaches 200.000 people annually with communications activities. A few organizations – notably zoos and national parks – reach a considerably higher number, while the vast majority of partners communicates with 20.000 or less people annually.
Three out of four partners are regularly involved with the media, and websites, newsletter and presentations are ubiquitous communications tools. 95% of partners state that the goal of Countdown 2010 is clear to them, and that the 2010 biodiversity target is relevant to the work of their organization.
The list of priority sectors is dominated by ‘classical’ environmental issues (protected areas, forestry, agriculture), a number of ‘emerging issues’ (climate change, urban environment, private business) follows, and a number of ‘harder’ policy issues follows last (trade, transport, energy).
The feedback on Countdown 2010’s communications tools (website, newsletter, etc) was very positive: Two out of three partners already agree that ‘Countdown 2010 provides enough and relevant information’ on all aspects of biodiversity, and we’re working hard to satisfy the needs and ideas of the other third.
Partners want to work together
Some of the respondents were interested in a deeper collaboration between partners on certain topics, particularly on business and biodiversity. With the upcoming European Initiative on Business and Biodiversity, Countdown 2010 will actually create a mechanism to engage partners on this topic: Read more about this in the May issue of the newsletter.
For other topics, participants wanted to be able to identify potential partners to approach them independently. The findings of the partner survey now provide a better overview of each partner’s thematic priorities, but it will take a while to make this information available online. Until then, please direct your questions to info (at) countdown2010 (dot) net. Logos and short description of each partner’s commitments shall be published online in due course as well.
Leveraging communications on biodiversity
How to use the networks of all Countdown 2010 partners to communicate biodiversity? The perfect opportunity to try this is International Biodiversity Day on 22 May this year. Countdown 2010 thus asks all partners to send out a press release on the occasion.
One of Countdown 2010’s main communication tools is the bi-monthly newsletter, which always includes a feature topic, conservation projects, practical suggestions for saving biodiversity and scientific information. It also includes links to upcoming events, latest webstories, and to all new partners. All suggestions for the newsletter, the website or any other communication products are welcome at wiebke.herding (at) countdown2010 (dot) net.
Action in a diversity of countries and languages
How to run a global campaign and still stay relevant to the local level? For some countries, national focal points have volunteered to create this link. They have translated the core Countdown 2010 material into an impressive number of languages, and work with the secretariat in Brussels to keep Countdown 2010 alive and kicking on the national level. Some focal points have even created specific Countdown 2010 websites in their languages.
Governments as Countdown 2010 Partners
Fourteen European governments have joined Countdown 2010 officially, and, yes, we are a bit proud of it. Some partners pointed out though that some commitments signed were rather weak, and that others were not being implemented. So, here’s a promise, and a wish: We will ask the Countdown 2010 focal points in each country to consult with local partners before governments sign in future, and we’ll ask the focal points to keep an eye on implementation in their country. But it’s not only governments who can – and need to – do more in their commitment towards 2010: By actively following up on all individual organizational commitments, we can jointly establish vibrant platforms which will bring us up to 2010 with some concrete results.
Other Suggestions
You also suggested that Countdown 2010 should help its partners to raise funds. You can find a list of EU funding opportunities on the Countdown 2010 website. In addition, we are exploring options to create a Countdown 2010 funding mechanism.
Respond to the survey results
Leave a comment here – or contact the Countdown 2010 Secretariat.
