This discussion symposium would engage participants in an interactive dialogue about the dynamics of collaborative processes to address complex environmental and natural resource management issues. With the growing number of such collaborative efforts, there is a need and an opportunity to share lessons learned, challenges, and best practices. The symposium organizers will facilitate exploration of the following questions, as well as others that may emerge during the session: What makes collaborative processes work well? What could be improved?  If they don't succeed, what factors contribute to that and what could be done to address these issues? Do the recent changes in federal leadership and policy require new ways of framing the arguments for more collaborative approaches? In addition to welcoming participation from researchers in this field, session organizers actively encourage practitioners directly engaged in collaborative work to participate in this symposium to share their perspectives and experience.

Discussants: 

Jennifer Allen, Portland State University (jhallen@pdx.edu), Esther Conrad, Stanford University (esther@stanford.edu), Greg Mohr, University of California (greg5mohr4@cox.net), Rebecca Romsdahl, University of North Dakota (Romsdahl@aero.und.edu), Casey Taylor, Idaho State University, (taylcas3@isu.edu) Lindsey Williams, University of New Hampshire (lindsey.c.williams@gmail.com)