our way of working

Collaboration and Dialogue

As described below with respect to the Future of Wildlife Habitat Conservation, our way of working is based on collaboration and underlying it “dialogue.”  The idea is of a collaborative process (perhaps as part of a legal framework) utilized to consider proposed actions, topics or questions taking into consideration related concerns, issues and opportunities.  The early model for this way of working are the Habitat Conservation Plans (HCPs) for addressing federally listed species.  The first HCP was conceived and led by our Executive Director, Lindell Marsh (1980 through mid-1983). 

There are now more than 1,000 HCPs nation-wide, covering millions of acres (See the report focused on the Future of Habitat Conservation Planning).  As a way to further explore habitat conservation planning (under HCPs or other frameworks), we brought together in dialogue a spectrum of knowledgeable agencies, interests and individuals.   Our work included: research, preparation of working papers, convening of in-person dialogue sessions (of 15 to 50) and the preparation of reports.  As to a sense of the spirit of the process generally, we prefer to conduct the dialogue working sessions around a solid square table with no hole in the center, and with no need for a microphone. 

As part of such a dialogue process, a working paper may be researched and prepared, or, in some cases individuals in the group may be asked to prepare brief working papers ahead of a session.  There are no fixed extended presentations during the session, but, rather, the topic is explored through dialogue moderated by one or more dialogue leaders.  The group is not expected to develop in the session a refined report.  Rather, it is the responsibility of the dialogue leader(s) to listen and act as rapporteurs in preparing a draft report which is then circulated to the group, and perhaps others, for comment. A final report is then prepared based upon the draft and subsequent comments (with adverse comments being included). Below are graphics depicting a proposed collaborative dialogue process successfully used in creating the future for proposed process (not undertaken) regarding certain concerns with respect to the Orange County, CA coastal plain.   

Learn more about the Collaborative Planning process, including a graphic of the collaborative process used for conserving a major portion of North Key Largo, Florida.