The Role of Technology in Natural Resources

Technology matters, even outdoors!
(Photo courtesy of TripleBlaze.com)

In a dynamic world, many people embrace tradition. Occasionally, they cling to

it so tightly that new concepts and inventions seem intimidating and can be rejected outright. Natural resources employees often fall into the mindset that the outdoors are immutable, and thus entirely unrelated to the fast pace of technology.

The value inherent in being an early adopter spans all kinds of career paths. It may be tempting to demonize innovation; the truth is technology can be more relevant to Yellowstone than Silicon Valley. Electronic communication provides the opportunity to initiate, interact with, and inform natural resources stakeholders and participants.

Initiate

One of the biggest complaints among organizers of natural resources hobbies is, "Kids these days spend their time drooling over video games instead of playing outside." It is true that a common problem among hunting and fishing associations is membership with a bias toward retirement age Caucasian males.

Social networks and blogs provide an unprecedented method of reaching diverse audiences. The web can be used to gather donations, recruit members, and send invitations to events. It is vital for employees in natural resources to be comfortable with all forms of communication being used by their potential stakeholders. Reaching someone across the world is now instantaneous, and this can be vastly important for sharing information. How can you recruit new members if you refuse to talk to them through methods they relate to?

Inform

Social Media can seem like a puzzle,        
but it is worth learning!
(Photo courtesy of progressivepst.com)

Agencies can utilize technology to gather information and share it. GPS, radio collars, and statistical programs can be tools used daily. Why not, then, view networking media as just another tool?

For example, a DNR warden could create a website that simplifies hunting and fishing laws into language understandable by regular people. Mini games could be created to introduce hunting and fishing methods to kids. A zoo keeper could design a donations page to fund a larger enclosure for a new baby tiger. Regardless of your career, you will have a wealth of information to share with your stakeholders and the internet is a fantastic way to do it.

Event invitations would previously be mailed to each participant, making changes to details expensive to share. With methods like facebook events, you can reach people who have never interacted with your organization and keep them instantly updated on any changes to activities. 

Interact

These resources are not just for organizations to communicate with their members. One of the greatest advantages is the potential for garnering feedback. Websites can be used to host polls, gather stakeholder opinions on regulations, and collect stories and experiences.Technology provides quick methods for gathering information on how effective your policies, events, and initiatives were. 

Early Adoption

Next time you are tempted to dismiss innovation as unrelated to natural resources, think of the opportunities it can provide for your organization. Someone with the skills to adapt to new technology is more likely to be hired and more likely to reach their intended audience.