In this way, the plans were structured to meet the objectives and requirements of both the biodiversity sector and the target municipal planning departments and provincial environmental affairs and planning department. This proved to be an essential role for building trust and familiarity with the people involved and the contents of the work. Through a willingness to listen and understand their priorities and processes, this relationship helped to determine how best to achieve the objectives of both parties, for example, by sourcing co-financing to help fund projects suffering from budget cuts during the recession.