Collaborative Solutions

"People affected by change have to be deeply involved in the crafting of solutions...We have to get better at both involving people in the process of change and providing them with enough information to make that involvement useful and worthwhile."

-- William D. Ruckelshaus

The Ruckelshaus Institute's collaborative solutions program supports natural resource stakeholders, policy makers, and managers in making decisions about the future. We achieve this by:

• Combining scientific information, human values and decision support
• Developing effective, lasting solutions to environmental problems
• Using the Ruckelshaus Institute's cadre of experts who convene stakeholders and representatives from private business and industry, public interest groups, landowners and government
• Exploring policy alternatives, management priorities and future visions

Read our new flyer describing our work in Collaborative Solutions.

Current and recent projects

Laramie County Control Area Steering Committee

In October 2014, the Laramie County Commissioners created the Laramie County Control Area Steering Committee. Its 29 members are charged with developing creative and effective options for reducing water use, which will be forwarded to the Laramie County Control Area Advisory Board and the State Engineer for consideration.

Governor's Task Force on Forests

Governor Matt Mead created the Task Force on Forests to study the benefits forests provide and to analyze and consider new response strategies and recommendations for both active and passive management. The Forest Task Force reached consensus on 12 major recommendations comprising 53 sub-recommendations, for the Governor’s consideration, now available in the final report. Visit the Governor's Task Force on Forests page for more information.

Wyoming Collaboration Conference

The 2014 Wyoming Collaboration Conference explored how place-based collaboration can connect communities with natural resources and the environment through a workshop and keynote speaker sessions.

Collaboration Program in Natural Resources

The Collaboration Program in Natural Resources provides professional training for a cohort of mid- and upper-level natural resource decision makers and engaged citizens. In six rigorous sessions, participants will gain skills and knowledge to apply collaborative processes to complex environment and natural resource challenges to build lasting, supported solutions.

For information about past projects, click here.