RationaleThe West’s natural resources, communities & economies are under threat: • increasing population
demands on limited resources,
• declining land management capacity,
• uncertain climate patterns, &• unpredictable natural events.
RationaleIn response, diverse citizen-led groups are coming together, from the ground up, using inclusive approaches to address increasing complexity and conflict around conservation issues.
This is Community-Based Collaborative Conservation (CBCC)
The WCCN works at the regional scale to remove barriers and fill critical gaps so CBCC efforts can implement durable and lasting conservation solutions for people and place
Who We Are
Western Collaborative Conservation Network (WCCN):
Mission:The Western Collaborative Conservation Network (WCCN)
promotes and supports community-based collaborative conservation efforts that strengthen and sustain healthy landscapes, vibrant
communities, and thriving economies.
Healthy landscapes ~ Vibrant communities ~ Thriving economies
WCCN: Who & Where We Are● Network of Community-based collaborative
conservation efforts ● Across 7 states: MT, ID, WY, CO, UT, AZ, NM● Working in forests, rangelands, & watersheds
Comprised of:● Private landowners, rural & agricultural communities,
tribes● Business and Industry● Community-Based Collaborative Conservation leaders
and practitioners● State, sub-regional, and national conservation
organizations● Local, state, & federal land management agencies● Academic institutions● Conservation non-profits
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WCCN: Who We Are – Leadership Team
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WCCN: Who We Are – Leadership Team
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State Name OrganizationArizona Mark Brehl Greater Flagstaff Forest Partnership
Tom Sheridan Altar Valley Conservation Alliance and University of Arizona
Tahnee Robertson Southwest Decision ResourcesKaren Simms Pima County
Colorado Richard Alper Mediator
Retta Bruegger Colorado State University ExtensionClaire Harper USFS, Rocky Mountain Region,
State & Private Forestry and Tribal RelationsWatershed Partnerships, Forest Legacy, Community Forests & Open Space
Casey Davenhill Colorado Watershed AssemblyHeather Johnson US Fish and Wildlife Service, Partners for Wildlife
Shannon Wadas Rivers Edge West and Cross Watershed Network
Idaho Jeske Grave Teton Regional Land TrustJohn Robison Idaho Forest Restoration Partnership, Idaho
Conservation LeagueMontana Erin Farris-Olsen Montana Watershed Coordination Council
Gary Burnett Heart of the RockiesBill Milton Musselshell Watershed Coalition
New Mexico Alan Barton New Mexico Forest and Watershed Restoration Institute University of New Mexico
Elaine Kohrman USFS Region 3Rick Merrick South Central Mountain RC&D; The Otero Working
GroupDeidre (Dee) Tarr NRCS, Claunch-Pinto Soil and Water Conservation
District
State Name OrganizationUtah Lorien Belton Jack H. Berryman Institute, Utah State University
Jay Olsen Utah Watershed Coordinating CouncilDave Bastian Grand Staircase Escalante PartnersPaul Burnett Trout Unlimited
Wyoming Wanda Burget Accord Resource Solutions, LLC and Wyoming Mining Natural Resource Foundation
Rox Hicks USFWSDeb Kleinman The Lupine CollaborativeJessica Western Haub School for the Environment & Natural Resources
University of Wyoming
Jessica Crowder Western Landowners Alliance
Pat O’Toole Rancher-external advisorSteve Smutko Haub School for the Environment & Natural Resources
University of Wyoming
Network Coordinator and Facilitators
Heather Knight Colorado State University, Center for Collaborative Conservation
Shawn Johnson Center for Natural Resources and Environmental Policy University of Montana
Matt McKinney Center for Natural Resources and Environmental Policy University of Montana
Advisory Team
Patrick Crist PlanIt ForwardBeth Conover Salazar Center for North American Conservation
Brett Wolk Colorado Forest Restoration InstituteSteve Jester Partners for Conservation
WCCN: Who We Are – Leadership Team
● Goal: WCCN promotes and supports community-based collaborative conservation (CBCC) efforts that strengthen and sustain healthy landscapes, vibrant communities, and thriving economies.
● Objectives:1. Increase awareness of and support for the CBCC approach.
2. Advance the practice of CBCC.
3. Promote and support state-level and sub-regional CBCC support organizations/networks.
4. Engage, inspire, and prepare future collaborative leaders.
5. Promote public policy to enable and sustain CBCCs.
6. Create a regional funding strategy to support CBCCs.
WCCN: What We Do
WCCN: Our Role
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On-the-ground CBCCs
RegionalNetwork
State-level & sub-regional
organizations/networksIncreased
Collaboration
WCCN: How We Developed
CCC Practice Program starts
Interviews of conservation leaders collaborative conservation skills, tools & resources
Network Gathering with conservation partners to review Network development
Survey of existing collaborative conservation learning opportunities & resources
Regional CBCC Workshop-decision to form a regional CBCC Network
Draft Network design: work plans, structure, values,approach, funding & engagement plans
Summer 2016
Fall/Winter 2016
Spring 2019
Fall/Winter 2018
Spring 2017
Summer 2017
Fall/Winter 2017
Spring 2018
Summer 2018
OUTPUTS
PROCESS
CCC Practice Program strategic plan
Needs Assessment Report & Infographic
CRAFT: searchable database of collaborative conservation learning opportunities & resources
Workshop Report & Action Plan
Leadership Team, Coordinating Committee & Working Groups form to design the Network
Database of existing collaborative conservation learning opportunities & resources
Final Network design: work plans, values, approach, charter, funding & engagement plans
Summer 2019
Network moves from design phase into implementationphase & planning for launch event March 2020
WCCN: How We Work
How We Work: WCCNs 3 C’s Approach
Connector: WCCN connects community-based collaborative conservation groups across the west to:
● Share knowledge and experiences,
● Co-learn,
● Pool & leverage resources,
● Develop collaboration skills through peer-to-peer learning,
● Share impactful stories
to create a stronger collective voice for collaborative efforts.
How We Work: WCCN’s 3 C’s Approach
Convener: WCCN convenes with the community of practice and support organizations to identify:
● Barriers,
● Needs of the communities,
● Gaps and opportunities
to build collaborative capacity for community-based collaborative conservation efforts.
How We Work: WCCN’s 3 C’s Approach
Catalyst: The WCCN catalyzes resources and expertise to:
● Solve and reduce barriers to collaboration issues,
● Fill critical collaborative gaps for CBCCs,
● Transfer actions & best practices
to create more durable and lasting conservation solutions.
What We Work On:
Capacity Building
• Promote searchable CC learning opportunity & resources database
• Interactive regional story map of CBCCs
• Collaboration tool development & skills trainings
• Build Capacity of CBCCs to increase effectiveness & sustainability
• Match making mechanisms for CBCCs: find peer-to-peer trainings, interns, mentors/coaches
• Pipeline of prepared future leaders
• Regional Leadership certificate
Awareness &
Engagement
• Define CBCC and benefits
of CBCC approach
• Create regional calendar
• Explore partnerships for
story telling
• Create, promote and
distribute impact stories
• Build support for and
membership of the
Network and to engage
CBCCs across the region
Public Policy
• One-pager on Keys To Success including personnel characteristics & how to institutionalize collaborative conservation in agencies
• White paper on institutionalizing the collaborative approach as a way of doing business in agencies
• PowerPoint presentation for delivery to agencies
• List of key people to deliver the message to agencies and a list of whom to deliver the message to within agencies
Sustainable Funding
• Convene funders and
practitioners to explore
regional funding
capacity issues for
CBCCs and develop a
strategy
• Develop a long-term
funding strategy for the
Network
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How We Are Structured: WCCN Leadership Team
Steering CommitteeMade up of 1 or 2 people representing each state, preferably from CBCCs and or state level & sub-
regional CBCC support orgs and with connections to each Working Group
To provide:Network oversight, governance, & decision-making in
consultation with Leadership Team & members to advance the development of the Network.
Coordination between Working Groups and Advisory Committee
Work on high level tasks like funding for the NetworkDesign & Host Annual Events
Facilitation Team
Provide facilitation and coordination for the Network. Act as host organization for website, documents, management of
funding sources, etc.
Committees Working Groups
Awareness &
Engagement
Capacity Building Public Policy
Advisory Committee
Key regional, sub-regional or national scale partners to advise Executive Committee strategically on
specific Network issues
Sustainable Funding
How We Are Structured:
How Do I Get Involved?
• Become a Network member Get connected to others Be seen on the interactive regional map Build your skills Find a collaborator, intern, or coach
• Join a WCCN committee or working group
• Attend the Network Launch Event-March 10-12, 2020
JOIN US!To get involved, visit
https://collaborativeconservation.org/program/practice/