Description
The 4 Returns Diagnosis
To create a better understanding of the 4 Returns in your landscape, you could conduct a 4 Returns Diagnosis assessment. The 4 Returns Diagnosis offers a comprehensive snapshot of the current state of the 4 Returns within the landscape and impact achieved so far. This can be useful to stakeholders who are new to landscape restoration, but also for stakeholders who are already working in a landscape and want to broaden their approach. The content is gathered through interviews with landscape stakeholders and complemented by existing resources such as local information, literature, and reports.
Although the main purpose of the 4 Returns Diagnosis is to assess the 4 Returns in your landscape, it could also be used for:
- Creating a shared understanding of what the 4 Returns are, specifically in your landscape
- Better understanding the current state of the 4 Returns in your landscapes, including impact achieved so far
- Identifying potential focus areas and barriers to restoration
- Input to develop pilots or interventions for holistic landscape restoration
- IInput for a fundraising strategy, call to action, or landscape proposition
- Input for the strategic direction of a holistic landscape restoration plan
How does it work?
The assessment dives into all 4 Returns, which are explained in more detail in the guidebook chapter ‘Unpacking the 4 Returns’. The return of inspiration, for example, includes awareness, connection to the landscape, and behavioural change. Each of these, in turn, consist of several factors. Using the 4 Returns diagnostic Tool (see yellow link below), you rate the current state of all these factors on a scale from 1 to 4, including an explanation. This data creates a 4 Returns diagram for each return. The tool is very self-explanatory, but below you can find some practical tips to get started. Once filled in, automatically a diagnosis report is generated that can be downloaded. This is not a definitive landscape assessment, but a glimpse into the landscape that serves as a starting point for discussions to shape strategies and interventions for holistic landscape restoration.
Some practical tips to get started
To help you get started, here are some practical tips:
- Before you start. Before beginning the 4 Returns Diagnosis, ensure you have an overview of key stakeholders in the landscape and rough landscape boundaries.
- Time investment. We suggest to conduct the 4 Returns Diagnosis in four separate sessions, each focusing on a specific Return. Aim for about 2 hours per Return, totalling 4 sessions of approximately 2 hours each to complete the 4 Returns Diagnosis Report.
- Have one ‘facilitator’ to lead the 4 Returns Diagnosis. This individual coordinates the process, including inviting people to join sessions, facilitating the interviews and discussions, and writing down the final outcomes in the 4 Returns Diagnostic Tool.
- Stakeholder Involvement: Identify which stakeholders can provide input for each Return. For instance, an ecological expert for Natural Returns and a community expert for Social Returns. Engage about 1-3 stakeholders per Return. This can be a single knowledgeable person or multiple individuals to include diverse perspectives if you have more time and want a thorough diagnosis.
- Combined discussion. Hold one interview or discussion per Return with all relevant stakeholders. This allows for interactive responses and consensus on the rating and description for each factor, and will save you a lot of time. Meetings can be online or face-to-face if possible.
- Level of Detail: Aim for the right level of detail. Describe key characteristics and relevant impacts for each factor without striving for perfection. The 4 Returns Diagnosis provides a snapshot to start discussions.
- Write down follow-ups: Note any themes or factors needing further discussion as potential follow-ups. The diagnosis offers a ‘helicopter view’ to see the whole picture before zooming in on specific topics.
- Validate Outcomes: After creating the 4 Returns Diagnosis report, organize a follow-up session with all contributors to discuss and validate the outcomes. The section below describes some more options for follow-ups.
After the 4 Returns Diagnosis
Having done the 4 Returns Diagnosis with all relevant stakeholders, you can think about viable next steps. The nature of these next steps will vary depending on your landscape’s stage and particular needs. Some potential follow-up workshops include:
- Discuss and validate the 4 Returns Diagnosis with a broader stakeholder group. Which outcomes of the diagnosis stand out and why? Does it describe the current state of the landscape well? What questions arise from it? Which factors would be interesting to explore through follow-up conversations, research, or another way?
- Organise a participatory session to prioritise focus areas based on the outcomes of the 4 Returns Diagnosis. Explore existing pilots or interventions, or design new ones.
- Use the diagnosis as input for developing a Landscape Proposition or 4 Returns Landscape Plan. Guidance for both can be found at the 4 Returns Platform.
Good luck!
Referencing this tool: Commonland, Wetlands International and Landscape Finance Lab (2023), 4 Returns Diagnostic Tool (Commonland)
Illustration: Janina Engel, engel.studio
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