skip to main content
skip to newscasts

Thursday, September 21, 2023

Public News Service Logo
facebook instagram linkedin reddit youtube twitter
view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Young people in Georgia on the brink of reshaping political landscape; Garland faces down GOP attacks over Hunter Biden inquiry; rural Iowa declared 'ambulance desert.'

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

McConnell warns government shutdowns are "a loser for Republicans," Schumer takes action to sidestep Sen. Tuberville's opposition to military appointments, and advocates call on Connecticut governor to upgrade election infrastructure.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

An Indigenous project in South Dakota seeks to protect tribal data sovereignty, advocates in North Carolina are pushing back against attacks on public schools, and Arkansas wants the hungriest to have access to more fruits and veggies.

Report: Collaboration Wins in the Forest

play audio
Play

Friday, December 5, 2014   

HELENA, Mont. - Weeds, fire risk, logging, recreation, mining. Locals can come up with solutions for all those issues on National Forest lands.

A new report from The Wilderness Society takes a look at 15 collaborative groups around the state that have designed plans with input from businesses, conservation groups, land managers and recreation organizations.

Retired Montana Republican lawmaker Bob Brown participated in a collaboration and found that, even when people have very different views, talking it out uncovers wide swaths of common ground.

"It's real people at the grassroots level," he said, "looking at each other face-to-face to make decisions that affect all of us."

The report lists collaboration successes, such as the Southwestern Crown, which has created more than 200 jobs, treated more than 28,000 acres for invasive species, improved trails and campgrounds and restored wildlife habitat. But the report also warns that collaborations are threatened by lack of funding, and need more agency participation and support in Congress.

Even when opinions are diverse, said Gary Burnett, executive director of The Blackfoot Challenge, Montanans are civil folks and know how to build trust so solutions can be crafted.

"The public is clearly tired of old, position-based arguments that only lead to wasted time and no solutions," he said. "We've heard that repeatedly. We need to focus on interest-based, collaborative process that delivers real solutions."

For collaborations to work well, said Gordy Sanders, resource manager at Pyramid Mountain Lumber, they need participants with opposing views and opinions.

"We believe the more involvement by different interests in the discussion, both early on and in the final product, produces the right thing on the ground for the right reasons," he said.

He added that collaborations allow local voices to be heard and can pave the way for forest projects to receive approval more quickly.

The report is online at wilderness.org.


get more stories like this via email

more stories
Among 12- to 17-year-olds nationwide, 2.08 million or 8.33% report using drugs in the last month. (Adobe Stock)

Health and Wellness

play sound

In the wake of the devastating overdose epidemic in North Carolina, the state's Department of Health and Human Services is stepping up to aid …


Social Issues

play sound

In cities across the globe, including the Michigan city of Midland, various organizations are commemorating International Day of Peace today…

Environment

play sound

In rural Alabama, where hurricanes and tornadoes are a constant threat, communities often struggle with damage and limited resources for extended …


Universities across the country are facing declining enrollment and increasing financial challenges. (Adobe Stock)

Social Issues

play sound

A group of West Virginia Democratic delegates is calling for a special session to address West Virginia University's budget shortfall. Del. Evan …

Social Issues

play sound

While many Wyomingites of Hispanic descent came from Mexico, there is a lesser-known population from the old Spanish settlements of northern New …

Health and Wellness

play sound

The prevalence of Type 2 diabetes is on the rise in Mississippi. About one in seven Mississippians lives with diabetes. Jernard A. Wells, cookbook …

Social Issues

play sound

This week, feminism passes a milestone of sorts as the iconic publication, Ms. Magazine, looks back on its first fifty years. A new book has just …

 

Phone: 303.448.9105 Toll Free: 888.891.9416 Fax: 208.247.1830 Your trusted member- and audience-supported news source since 1996 Copyright © 2021