Collaborative Ecosystem Stewardship

Uncovering common ground in the places we share

Humans are increasingly taking on the role of ecosystem stewards, proactively and sustainably managing the ecosystems on which we and other species rely. Ecosystem stewardship requires understanding the relevant science and how it can help inform and address what are often perceived as competing social, political, and economic interests. Many ecosystem stewardship efforts also involve overlapping jurisdictions, difficult histories, and broad geographic scales and require people to wrestle with the realities of change, risk, and uncertainty. Given these complexities, the ability to work together is critical to successfully identify and implement agreed-upon solutions. 

Our Collaborative Ecosystem Stewardship program, staffed by an experienced team of mediators and facilitators, provides the guidance, technical competency, and support needed for success. We work closely with stakeholders and project partners to design and implement strategic approaches to collaboration, promote constructive and open communication, and build a shared understanding of the complex science underpinning stewardship decisions.

We engage stakeholders—including community groups, government agencies, nongovernmental organizations, indigenous groups, and companies—who collaborate in efforts to address competing uses of land and water, restore degraded ecosystems, and proactively plan for resilience on a changing planet. These efforts often benefit from exploring and implementing adaptive management governance approaches that promote decision-making supported by advances in scientific understanding and iterative learning. We employ a variety of tools and approaches to help diverse groups reach voluntary agreements and remove barriers to cooperation in order to increase the likelihood of successful collaborative ecosystem stewardship.