Where to from here? Transforming barriers into opportunities Region 6 Social Science Forum

USFS has recognized that people and values are central to today’s challenges

The public is not the problem, but they can be part of the solution. Planning processes that employ a truly collaborative process right from the start (drawing on published best practices) tend to be more productive and less contentious and, surprisingly, quicker too. You need to know what your publics need and want from the forest and you need to recognize that it may not be what you think (or where you think it is). Your choices are defendable as long as you show that you gathered data from your publics and you used it to make decisions. USFS mission: Caring for the land and serving the people We are collectively learning how to achieve a new vision of serving the people.

So, how do we rise to the challenge?

First, Acknowledge the challenges are real and big Compliments of Dale Blahna

Can’t do more with less Can build & strengthen relationships Can be creative, innovative Can network and learn from successes Can demonstrate value and cultivate champions (play the long game) Some ideas…… Then, Have a dialog on what we can do

Build relationships & Share innovations Add photo from the workshop Add Lis’s examples Add from day’s presentations Diane Besser might have some innovations

Continue to strengthen relationships with the research community - Communication - Connections - Partnerships

Be creative in identifying resources - Staffing -External funding -Partnerships USFS Volunteers

Play the long game - Tell the story -Cultivate champions

Find opportunity in change -Social landscape -Management drivers -Agency culture

Thanks! Cheryl Friesen & the Forum Planning Team Lee Cerveny & BeSmart Concept Team Kenlie Kim, Simon Kihia, Rachel White, and PNW Goods Services and Values Program Diane Besser, Lis Grinspoon, Toral Patel Weynand, Jim Pena, Rob Mangold, Kent Connaughton Speakers John Laurence John Allen Cass Moseley Michael Nelson Troy Hall Bruce Shindler Emily Jane Davis Nikola Smith Linda Kruger