Collaborative climate change management: exploring new management techniques

Abstract

Global climate change requires a shift in natural resource management practices and increased collaboration among land managers and surrounding communities. This qualitative study explores opportunities to enhance collaboration through collaborative conservation practices and scenario planning. I studied the Crown of the Continent Ecosystem in the northern Rocky Mountains to explore how partnerships between land management agencies can adapt to the challenges of climate change. In this thesis, through participant observation and a literature survey I examine the complexity of climate change impacts on ecological and sociological communities in the Crown. I also study the process of scenario planning as it was applied to climate change management in two case study parks in the National Park Service. I explore how scientists and decision-makers participating in the process of scenario planning challenged their assumptions about environmental management and negotiated the amount of scientific certainty needed to move forward with management. Through the exploration of these two case studies I conclude that climate change may be the window of opportunity for land managers to reconsider their roles, management objectives and partnerships.