Collaboration - why it's hard, why it's frustrating, and why I still think it is the way forward: reflections on collaboration in Montana's Crown of the Continent

Abstract

In the 1990's, collaborative efforts sprung up in small towns all across the American West. Most were born out of local citizen efforts to address seemingly intractable conflicts around natural resource management. Since that time, local collaborative groups have given way to more regional collaborative efforts, and collaboration has begun to find itself codified in law and agency best practices. Melanie will be sharing her own reflections on the current practice of collaboration and hopes to also engage in a thoughtful discussion regarding the merits of this approach to natural resource management.