Sustaining a Collaborative Process

We all know that effective collaboration in ecosystem management does not occur overnight. It is an ongoing process and that means that you need to find ways to sustain the involvement of people for the long haul. Some factors that have been shown to help sustain collaborative processes over extended periods of time include:

Continuity that is provided by consistent agency participation and by effective transitions in participation. A continuity in participant philosophy regarding the value of collaboration is also important.

Commitment of agency managers and leaders to the collaborative process. While successful collaboration comes from the actions of individuals, the level of commitment that these individuals and their activities receive from government agencies directly affects their ability to succeed.

A Compelling focus on a special place, a common vision of the future or a shared problem. Visible progress -- having things happen -- also compels continued collaboration.

Mechanisms in place that maintain predictable and meaningful communication between agency and non-agency groups.

For a detailed discussion of these factors, see Sustaining Success of Collaborative Partnerships: Revisiting the Building Bridges Cases, a 1997 research report by Julia Wondolleck and Steven Yaffee.

This site was developed by the Ecosystem Management Initiative through a partnership with the US Forest Service and the US Department of Interior. Read more.