Quality assurance of nature interpreters

During this work, a lot of questions have arisen. Some examples are:

How would it be structured?

What kind of competence is required?

How could we make this quality assurance system attractive?

What qualifications are needen and how can the system be financed?

During 2010 SCNI presented a suggestion of how such a national quality assurance system could be organized and developed.

The proposal on a quality assurance system has been released for consultation.

In order to know more about what other actors think, the propopsal was sent to interested parties. We received 63 comments, 29 from selected consultative bodies and 34 from other actors.  

Most comments were positive, and agreed upon the arguments of SCNI. Many actors pointed out the importance of active nature interpreters taking part in the process of developing the system.

NEST - Northern Environment for Sustainable Tourism 

Background material for the investigatory work was provided by the Interreg IIIb-project Northern Environment for Sustainable Tourism (NEST), concerning a national certification system for nature interpreters. A working group within NEST was created in 2005 and its task was to create underlying material for better and more standardised quality of nature interpreters in Sweden. It also examined how to increase the status of the concept nature interpreter and make it a profession among others through validation and certification of nature and culture interpreters.

The proposal from the working group was presented in a report in 2007. The County Administration Board of Västernorrland initiated and is coordinating the work within NEST and the project is also supported by the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency.  

One of the proposals in the report is that SCNI, as a central actor in this matter, invites other relevant actors to continue the work.

Workshop on a national system for quality assurance of nature interpreters

Guiding activities in nature and in the cultural landscape.

In December 2009 SNCI organised a workshop where the results of the investigations, based on 43 responses to the questionnaire, international contacts and literature studies, were presented and discussed. The discussion material was sent out to the participants before the workshop. There were 41 participants, with a good dispersion both geographically as regards professional background. One of the findings of the workshop was that the participants wanted a process for national certification of nature interpreters, in parallel with preparatory education. 

What happens now?

Based on the points of view presented, SCNI formulated an application that was sent to the Swedish Board of Agriculture in February 2011. This board administers economic support from the so-called Countryside Programme. Unfortunately, funding was refused in August 2011, but the plan is to continue the process of consultation with other actors and create a system for quality assurance in practice. 

For further information, please contact Per Sonnvik.