Assessing Collaborative Governance Outcomes and Indicators across Spatial and Temporal Scales: Stewardship Contract Implementation by the United States Forest Service

Abstract

Scholarship on collaboration in natural resource management is restricted by a lack of large-N assessments and mixed methods approach to examine relationships between collaborative structures and processes, and management actions and outcomes. This paper examines the relationship between perceived levels of collaboration, collaborative process indicators, and benefits of USDA Forest Service stewardship contracts at a broad spatial and temporal scale using mixed methodology. This study found higher levels of collaboration were strongly associated with jointly initiated processes that included a breadth of interests and utilized a broad range of outreach mechanisms and opportunities for engagement. Highly collaborative processes were closely linked with attaining project objectives and social and economic benefits. Findings contribute to defining collaboration by uncovering the relationship between perceived levels of collaboration, the role of process characteristics, and perceived benefits of collaborative stewardship contracting processes through a large-N dataset (n = 1,064) and case study (n = 61) findings.

Keywords:

• Collaboration
• ecosystem management
• forest management
• forest policy
• mixed-methods analysis
• national forests

Acknowledgments

We thank The United States Forest Service and The PIC for their efforts collecting and sharing the information reported here (See: www.pinchot.org/gp/Stewardship_Contracting). This paper builds upon data reported by PIC, as well as K. Mattor’s dissertation from Colorado State University (Mattor 2013). The authors greatly appreciate the suggestions provided by the editors and anonymous reviewers.

Notes

Notes

1 Northern Rockies: ID, MT, ND, SD, WY; Central Rocky Mountain/Southwest: AZ, CO, KS, NE, NM, NV, OK, TX, UT; Pacific Coast: AK, CA, HI, OR, WA; Southeast: AL, AR, FL, GA, KS, KY, LA, MS, NC, SC, TN, VA; Northeast/Lake States: CT, DE, IL, IA, IN, MA, ME, MD, MI, MN, MO, NJ, NH, NY, OH, PA, RI, VT, WI, WV

2 The Alaska Region (R10) was not included because of limited data, therefore survey totals differ from Table 1.

3 “Agency” refers to the U.S. Forest Service; “Non-agency” refers to non-U.S. Forest Service participant; “Joint” indicates a combined “Agency” and “Non-Agency” effort

4 Integrated resource timber contracts are projects in which the value of timber exceeds costs of services. Integrated resource service contracts are projects in which the value of timber is less than the cost of services. Stewardship agreements are projects whereby the U.S. Forest Service partners with a state or local government or a non-profit organization, to leverage resources and expertise in implementing stewardship projects of mutual benefit and mutual interest. See: www.fs.fed.us/restoration/Stewardship_Contracting/overview.

Additional information

Funding

Financial support for K. Mattor and A. Cheng’s participation in this research came from the U.S. Department of Agriculture – National Institute for Food and Agriculture’s Hatch Funds administered by the Agricultural Experiment Station (Accession No. 0214245, Project No. COL00666) and the Center for Collaborative Conservation at Colorado State University.