Perceptions of Success and the Question of Consensus in Natural Resource Collaboration: Lessons from an Inactive Collaborative Group

Abstract

To better understand the relationship between collaborative process and results, we interviewed participants of an inactive collaborative group and analyzed their perceptions of success and the role of consensus in the group's process and outcomes. The main objective of the Intermountain Public Land Cooperative (IMPLC, a pseudonym) was to craft a consensus community alternative for the local Bureau of Land Management (BLM) resource area's Resource Management Plan. Participants perceived many benefits from collaboration, including improved communication and relationships, and high-quality input to the BLM planning process. However, the group was unable to reach consensus and one-quarter of those interviewed indicated that they were less likely to collaborate in the future due to their IMPLC experience. The IMPLC case highlights both benefits and costs of using consensus in collaboration.

Keywords:

• conflict
• consensus
• evaluation
• natural resource collaboration
• social capital
• success
• trust

Acknowledgments

We thank the participants of the IMPLC for their participation in this research and three anonymous reviewers for their extensive and constructive comments. This research was supported by the Colorado Agricultural Experiment Station and the Center for Collaborative Conservation at Colorado State University.