An Assessment of Collaborative Planning on State Trust Lands Client: The Sonoran Institute Advisor: Professor Steven Yaffee

Issue Background 148 million acres of state trust land in the western U.S. and Alaska Interest in conservation of state trust land growing as development pressure increases State trust land managers looking to collaborative planning to reduce conflict, minimize risk of poorly- planned development and create flexible strategies that meet the needs of both landowners and local communities

Project Goals Relate current principles of collaborative planning to real-world examples Identify real-world practices and procedures for collaborative decision-making Define “best management practices” for collaborative planning on state trust lands

Research Questions What constitutes collaborative planning involving state trust lands in the West? How is success measured? Can the relative failures or successes of these processes be attributed to specific causes? What are some of the most successful management practices for collaborative planning on state trust lands and what can be learned from specific case studies? How does the current literature on collaborative planning principles apply to “real life” scenarios or conflicts? What are the barriers to participation in collaborative planning for trust lands?

Research Methods Literature review of collaborative planning processes Analysis of five to seven case studies on recent state trust land collaborative planning efforts Interviews with stakeholders (on-site and via telephone)

Research Products Case study report identifying elements of successful and unsuccessful state trust land collaborative planning efforts Series of “best management practices” to be used in future management of state trust lands Training materials to teach state trust land managers about collaborative planning and management processes

Timeline Phase 1: March 2005 – July 2005 Literature review, development of case study selection criteria, preparation for July 2005 Western State Lands Commissioners Association (WSLCA) conference Phase 2: July 2005 – August 2005 WSLCA Conference, case study field research Phase 3: September 2005 – December 2005 Completion of the case studies, compilation of the studies into a comprehensive analytical report (Client Report), draft Masters Project Phase 4: January March 2006 Review of Masters Project and Client Report, preparation of training materials Phase 5: April 2006 – July 2006 Dissemination of Client Report and training materials, WSCLA Conference attendance and presentations, training course facilitation

Budget Funding for this project will be primarily provided by the Sonoran Institute and may include: Summer research stipend Travel and lodging expenses for conferences, on-site research and meetings with client Telecommunications, A/V equipment for conference, interviews and interactive training materials Office supplies, printing, stationary, and other materials for presentations, pamphlets, training materials, etc.