This panel will explore how collaborative governance approaches are being used to address complex environmental and natural resource issues. The panel includes a spectrum of types of collaborative approaches across different ecological and social characteristics. Cases include: water resources management and land-use planning in Santa Barbara; opportunities and challenges in federally sponsored place-based ocean and coastal partnerships in collaborative management; why and how collaborative approaches succeed or fail in sub-Saharan Africa; collaborative efforts related to the implementation of California’s Sustainable Groundwater Management Act; the role of collaborative efforts in local climate change policies; perspectives on the role of science in decision making related to the Western Sage-Grouse conservation; and lessons learned from the Oregon Sage Grouse Action Plan regarding what makes collaborative processes successful.

The panel addresses the Conference theme of Environment, Wellness, and Community by profiling efforts to bring together diverse partners to address challenging environmental and natural resource management issues. The research into these cases offers lessons learned that can be applied in other locations and to other complex issues.