Welcome to the Haub School of ENR Ruckelshaus Institute. People wearing hardhats in field.

Ruckelshaus Institute

The Ruckelshaus Institute, a division of the Haub School of Environment and Natural Resources at the University of Wyoming, advances the understanding and resolution of complex environmental and natural resources challenges in the Mountain West. We support stakeholder-driven solutions to environmental challenges by conducting and communicating relevant research and promoting collaborative decision making.


Ruckelshaus Institute Programs 

 

Group of stakeholders hearing presentation

Collaborative Solutions

Our collaborative solutions work supports natural resource stakeholders, policy makers, and managers in making decisions about the future through trainings, forums, and decision-making support services. Learn more

Pictures of recent publications

Communication and Publications

Ruckelshaus Institute outreach bridges science and policy to the people using it on the ground. Briefs, primers, and more support decisions and management for complex natural resource issues. Learn more

Open spaces: wide-open grassland and blue sky

Conferences and Forums

We convene conferences and forums that bring together stakeholders and decision-makers around natural resource issues that are important to the future of Wyoming and the West. Learn more

Ranch entrance in front of mountains

Private Lands Stewardship

This program addresses the needs of landowners by drawing on expertise and interdisciplinary collaborations across natural resource management, rangeland ecology, business and finance, law, decision-making, collaborative processes, and other fields. Learn more


Current and Recent Projects

 

Reports Available: 

Rock Springs RMP Task Force

In response to public outcry about the Bureau of Land Management's Draft Resource Management Plan (RMP) for the Rock Springs Field Office in southwestern Wyoming, Governor Mark Gordon formed a task force representing diverse interests and charged with developing recommendations for revising the RMP to meet the interests of Wyoming stakeholders. 

The task force incorporated public input from a series of interactive workshops organized by the University of Wyoming and held November 17 and 18, 2023. 

A summary of public input from the workshops, the task force's final comment letter to the BLM, and other related documents are available to view and download.

 

View the project webpage >

Buttes in southwest Wyoming at sunset.

Tents pitched in a field

Report Available:

Pinedale Community Trail Charrette

The Ruckelshaus Institute, in partnership with Wyoming Pathways and others, invited all trail users and Pinedale area land managers to attend a community trail charrette in June 2023 discussing the front country trail systems around Pinedale.

Charrettes are meant to create an innovative atmosphere in which stakeholders collaborate on generating visions for the future; this charrette was not empowered to make any decisions. Rather, it was a planning exercise that created informed and shared recommendations and priorities for use by public agencies and the community. 

Read the final report >


 

Proceedings and Recordings Available:

Outdoor Recreation in Wyoming: Building It the Way We Want It

April 26-28, 2023
Laramie, Wyoming

This emerging issue forum and workshop brought together together 200 stakeholders and decision makers to explore how Wyoming communities can balance the benefits and impact of growing outdoor recreation and tourism—economically, culturally, and environmentally.

Learn more >

Download the proceedings >

Watch the recordings >

Photo of cows at sunset

About the Institute

 

Image of William D. Ruckelshaus

William D. Ruckelshaus came to UW in 1993 at the invitation of U.S. Sen. Alan Simpson to serve as founding chairman on the board of a new institute dedicated to collaborative problem solving for natural resource challenges. He was a proponent of bringing together diverse stakeholders—different kinds of people who would be affected by any management or policy decision—to engage in civil discourse about desired outcomes for natural resource challenges. The goal was to build inclusive, lasting decisions that could avoid future litigation.

More on William D. Ruckelshaus and the history of the Institute.

Sign up for the tri-annual Ruckelshaus Institute e-newsletter.

Donate to support the Ruckelshaus Institute mission.


Contact Us

Haub School of ENR

University of Wyoming
Bim Kendall House
804 E Fremont St
Laramie, WY 82072

Phone: (307) 766-5080
Fax: (307) 766-5099
Email: haub.school@uwyo.edu

Follow Us

Facebook icon Twitter icon Instagram icon

Find a job

Browse our job board, next to Haub School logo

Contribute

Browse our job board, next to Haub School logo