White Paper: Options for Managing the Land Protection Component of the PRRIP

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Land Entity White Paper November 30, 1999 • The LOC c.Aq be created to offer representation of local interests beyond their representation in the Program as a whole. • The LOC can meet more often and with greater focus on land issues than the Governance Committee, making it more responsive to time - sensitive issues than the Governance Committee. • The formulation of deals and policy recommendations are in the hands of a body more responsive to the Governing Committee than an independent legal entity or contractor. • The LOC does not need federal legislative authorization. • With reduced responsibilities in the Land Entity or entities, using existing land management entities, or entities without representative governing bodies, becomes more palatable, possibly eliminating the need for federal legislative authorization for a Land Entity. Disadvantages • No large committee will be able to move quickly, so deals requiring quick action may fall through waiting for approval. • Ultimate decision - making remains with the Governance Committee, a step removed from the LOC and its (likely) broader local representation. • Another layer /top -heavy process. • Providing members to the LOC will be expensive, and providing "volunteer" staff may tilt representation toward entities like the governments who can afford to provide personnel. • Likely need to put implementation tasks in the hand of contractors may create a disjunct between planning and implementation. B. Land Entity Structural Options There are a number of alternative structural options for designing the Land Entity that have been proven effective in other parts of the country and for other projects which have similar objectives. The Governance Committee will need to delegate authority to the Land Entity, which could consist of one or a number of new or existing organizations, to accomplish these tasks. The range of alternatives, varying from different governmental and quasi - governmental entities to a variety of non - profit organizations, should be considered in terms of which structure is likely to meet the following demands: 0 Variety of Complex Tasks Required There are a variety of complex tasks that need to be performed by the Land Entity including: negotiation, land management, land restoration, financial and project management, contracting, communications, coordination, etc. • Responsiveness to Governance Committee. To what degree can the entity be made accountable to the Governance Committee or is it likely to be relatively autonomous? Some structures are better suited to taking Governance Committee instruction regarding the aims of the Program than others. 17