State Strategy Development to Implement the BLM Recreation Strategy: Connecting with Communities

IM 2014-094
Instruction Memorandum

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20240-0036
http://www.blm.gov

May 21, 2014

 

In Reply Refer To:

8400 (250) P

EMS TRANSMISSION 05/28/2014

Instruction Memorandum No. 2014-094

Expires: 09/30/2015

To:                   All State Directors

From:               Assistant Director, Resources and Planning  

Subject:           State Strategy Development to Implement the BLM Recreation Strategy: Connecting with Communities                                          DD:  09/30/2014

Program Area:  Recreation and Visitor Services

Purpose:  To request that state directors develop state strategies to implement the BLM Recreation Strategy: Connecting with Communities. 

Policy/Action:  The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has released a national strategy designed to reposition the Recreation and Visitor Services Program to focus on producing community social and economic recreation benefits.  State directors are to develop state strategies to implement BLM’s repositioning internally and externally within Community Networks of Service Providers as defined in the national strategy.

Step-down state strategies should be developed around both the external and internal repositioning goals and strategic focus area components outlined in the national strategy. 

A critical piece of the new strategy envisions developing collaborative approaches and cooperative actions with partners in the community network of service providers.  These approaches and actions should be associated with your most distinctive recreation-tourism products outlined by your state in the Fiscal Year 2014 Recreation and Visitor Services Advisory Team (RVSAT) Annual Report. 

Each state strategy should identify the priorities for implementation over the next 3 years.  

It should be reviewed annually to adapt to collaborative initiatives of providers cooperating in each network to build capacity around each of our primary recreation management areas.  

Each state will also update its progress within the RVSAT Annual Report.

Timeframe:  This policy is effective immediately.  Please send completed step-down strategies to Andy Tenney, Division Chief, Recreation and Visitor Services (atenney@blm.gov) by September 30, 2014.

Budget Impact:  State strategies are designed to build capacity for leveraged and outcome-focused recreation and visitor management.  Budget will be a key component of building long-term capacity in the program.  The focus on primary recreation management areas will reduce negative funding impacts on managing lower priority recreation areas that do not produce optimal socio-economic community benefits.  Funding increases will be directed to the implementation of the new strategy at the national, state, and field office levels.

Background:  The External and Internal Repositioning framework addressed in the national strategy is as follows:

External Repositioning Strategy

GoalStrategic Focus Area
Goal 1: Reposition the Recreation Program within Community Service Provider Networks to Better Serve Mutually Shared Customers.
  • Strategic Focus 1:  Proactively Engage with Community Networks of Service Providers.
  • Strategic Focus 2:  Plan and Manage Recreation Efforts to Achieve Specific and Desired Benefits to the Community.
Goal 2: Facilitate Greater Well-Being and Economic Benefits within Communities.
  • Strategic Focus 1:  Capitalize On and Protect the BLM’s “Backyard to Backcountry” Recreation Brand.
  • Strategic Focus 2:  Create Collaborative Recreation Management Plans.
  • Strategic Focus 3:  Give Priority to Those Recreation Opportunities that Promise the Most Significant Social and Economic Benefits that are within the Productive Capacity of the Community’s Delivery Systems, and that Best Fit the Character/Setting of Place-Based Recreation.

Internal Repositioning Strategy

GoalStrategic Focus Area
Goal 1. Deepen the Knowledge & Skill Base Needed for Maximizing Partnership Opportunities.
  • Strategic Focus 1:  Provide Enhanced Skills Training.
  • Strategic Focus 2:  Encourage Knowledge-Sharing.
Goal 2: Ensure That BLM participation in Partnerships Remains Relevant and Effective.
  • Strategic Focus 1:  Stay Up-to-date About the Interests of Network Providers and Primary Recreation–Tourism Visitors.
  • Strategic Focus 2:  Maintain an Accurate Inventory of Data.
Goal 3: Transform Communication and Outreach Efforts.
  • Strategic Focus 1:   Employ a Palette of Interpretive Communication Tools & Technology To Market Recreation Opportunities.
  • Strategic Focus 2:  Access Communications Expertise, As Well As BLM and Partner Social Media, To Improve Message Content and Delivery.
Goal 4: Establish Secure and Reliable Funding Sources.
  • Strategic Focus 1:  Use All Funding Sources Available to Maintain Priority Sites and Services.
  • Strategic Focus 2:  Use Collected Fees to Their Maximum Potential to Develop Recreation Benefits.

Manuals/Handbook Sections Affected:  None.

Coordination:  This Instruction Memorandum was coordinated between the Washington Office Recreation and Visitor Services Division, Public Affairs Division, and state recreation leads.

Contact:  Questions or concerns may be directed to Andy Tenney, Division Chief, Recreation and Visitor Services by telephone at 202-912-7094, or by email at atenney@blm.gov.

Signed by:                                                      
Gregory Shoop                                               
Acting, Assistant Director                             
Resources and Planning

Authenticated by:
Robert M. Williams
Division of IRM Governance,WO-860

Fiscal Year

2014