Key Factors that Influence the Collaborative Process Photo by Barb Tuttle, Carol DeSain, & Betsy BowenPhoto by Rachel BrummelPhoto by Stephanie Grayzeck Community Wildfire Protection Plans: The Great Lakes States Experience March 18, 2008 Rhinelander, Wisconsin

Collaboration … voluntary involves face-to face interaction and interdependence seeks to achieve goals that could not be achieved independently “…process by which diverse stakeholders work together to resolve a conflict or develop and advance a shared vision.” Collaboration Collective action

Elements Influencing Collaboration for CWPPs Collaboration participants process priority projects Scale Framing Networks Leadership

Scale A CWPP must be “agreed to by the applicable local government, local fire department, and State Agency responsible for forest management…” As a result…... applicable local government has been widely interpreted in terms of planning scale of CWPPs, and ultimately impacts the collaborative process.

Elements Influencing Collaboration for CWPPs—Scale Goal = strategic, landscape-level planning Broader scale planning (multi-county, county, or multi-township) Agency involvement critical

Lake County, Minnesota 1.34 million acres Agency led Fuels reduction projects Improved agency capacity and relationships Less homeowner involvement

Elements Influencing Collaboration for CWPPs—Scale Goal = strategic umbrella plan with additional documents that reach smaller scales Umbrella CWPP with community level CWPPs embedded Agency and homeowner involvement

Umbrella CWPPs Grizzly Flats, California –Trinity County CWPP and Firesafe Council East Portal, Colorado –Larimer County CWPP

Elements Influencing Collaboration for CWPPs—Scale Goal = property owner-level planning Smaller scale planning (neighborhood, homeowners association, community) Homeowner involvement critical.

High Knob, Virginia Community fuels reduction day Firewise Communities/USA certified All private or HOA land Strong homeowner involvement

Elements Influencing Collaboration for CWPPs—Scale There is no best scale…select the scale where you can make something happen! Consider the tension between: Large-scale, long term landscape level management Small-scale, immediate property owner impact

Elements Influencing Collaboration for CWPPs Collaboration participants process priority projects Scale Framing Networks Leadership

How do people understand the wildfire problem? Determines who is invited to participate Evaluate boundaries of the framing Elements Influencing Collaboration for CWPPs—Framing

Watershed Protection Fuels Reduction Restoration Safety

Taylor, Florida Public safety was the main concern Sheriff, DOF, County fire department 30 ft fire break around the community aided suppression efforts during 2007 fire Safety

Harris Park and East Portal, Colorado CWPP strategies focused on mitigating wildfire risk to restore historic forest conditions of Ponderosa Pine Forest restoration became an important community value Restoration

Two communities, each with a unique framing of the situation Barnes – access and improved safety Drummond – downed fuel and agency action One CWPP that addresses both Barnes and Drummond, Wisconsin Safety Fuels Reduction

Elements Influencing Collaboration for CWPPs – Networks Collaboration participants process priority projects Scale Framing Networks Leadership

Start where you have good relationships and pre-existing networks Trust across networks leads to increased openness to share information and willingness to consider future collaboration Elements Influencing Collaboration for CWPPs – Networks

The networks you pull in to the CWPP process influence who is involved and the resources available Not all networks need to be involved to the same degree. Some can be kept in the CWPP process through information links alone. Elements Influencing Collaboration for CWPPs – Networks

Individuals who represent two networks might be an efficient way to strengthen how different networks can support the CWPP –VFD/DNR representatives in Lake County, Minnesota –County administrator/homeowner in High Knob, Virginia Elements Influencing Collaboration for CWPPs – Networks

Elements Influencing Collaboration for CWPPs – Leadership Collaboration participants process priority projects Scale Framing Networks Leadership

Local leadership Intermediary roles –3 rd party –Key participants Elements Influencing Collaboration for CWPPs – Leadership

Lend legitimacy Provide heart, goals and links to others Local knowledge and political influence “Spark plugs” or “cheerleaders” Examples: –Lake County, Minnesota –Barnes and Drummond, Wisconsin –High Knob, Virginia Local Leadership

What is an intermediary? Individual or organization that brings networks and resources, and bridges gaps Often times, an intermediary shares their knowledge and experience with mutiple CWPPs Who is an intermediary? Non-governmental organization, consultant Key participants can play critical leadership and intermediary roles and functions at different stops Intermediary roles

Barnes and Drummond, WI NWRPC facilitated and coordinated the CWPP Brought in outside and technical resources to the communities 3 rd party intermediary or consultant

Lake County, Minnesota Different participants played leadership roles at different times Local fire departments – local knowledge USFS fire modelers –fire modeling Larimer County, Colorado Multiple partners filling intermediary roles

Elements Influencing Collaboration for CWPPs Collaboration participants process priority projects Scale Framing Networks Leadership

Questions Which of these factors would be most influential in your situation? Can you give a specific example of one of these factors in your community, and how it will influence collaboration? Are there additional factors that are going to be influential for your CWPP/community?