Welcome.
In an era of increasing division and gridlock at a national level, communities are coming together to decide how they want to develop and grow, manage resources, and interact with agencies. This process, called community-based collaboration, is a new way to solve problems--one that is inclusive, pragmatic, and effective. Instead of waging culture wars or antagonizing groups with different views, people engaged in collaborative processes operate on a basis of respect and on the level of human relationships. This approach has been proved successful by many well established groups in the West, while younger collaboratives continue to innovate and expand the possibilities of the field. However, it can be messy work: community-based collaboration integrates everything from esoteric policy to cutting-edge science to the relationships between neighbors. The ensuing mix isn't always easy to manage.
That's why we've written this guide. Recognizing the wealth of knowledge and experience from individuals and organizations in the Northern Rockies region, and drawing on available research and expertise from academics and conservation practitioners, the Community-Based Collaboration workshop hosted by Future West in the fall of 2016 provided an opportunity to share and discuss learnings from community-based collaboration initiatives, craft shared definitions and principles, and identify best practices for maximizing impact while avoiding pitfalls. This website is the culmination of that collective knowledge and a step toward creating shared practices and a common understanding of community-based collaboration.
That's why we've written this guide. Recognizing the wealth of knowledge and experience from individuals and organizations in the Northern Rockies region, and drawing on available research and expertise from academics and conservation practitioners, the Community-Based Collaboration workshop hosted by Future West in the fall of 2016 provided an opportunity to share and discuss learnings from community-based collaboration initiatives, craft shared definitions and principles, and identify best practices for maximizing impact while avoiding pitfalls. This website is the culmination of that collective knowledge and a step toward creating shared practices and a common understanding of community-based collaboration.
The Guide
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The guide is broken down into four stages of community-based collaboration: getting together, working together, delivering results, and adaptation and resilience.
Our hope is that by presenting each step separately the information is available and easily digestible, no matter where in the process your collaborative might lie. We've also put together the infographic to the right displaying a brief summary of each of the steps. Print it, share it, and use it as you see fit. |
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