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/