Linking Community-Based Entrepreneurial Development and Natural Resource Management

1. Linking Community-BasedEntrepreneurial Developmentand Natural Resource Management Ruth McWilliams National Sustainable Development Coordinator USDA Forest Service New American Communities E-Search Conference December 10, 2002

2. Entrepreneurship • Focuses on individuals or groups… not businesses • Applies to public as well as private sector Public role – Building communities Private role – Building businesses (Center for Rural Entrepreneurship)

3. Entrepreneurial Development • U.S. is one of the most entrepreneurial countries in the world (Kauffman Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership) • Key individual attributes: Motivation – spark, vision, drive, energy Capacity – business skills, networking, partnering (Center for Rural Entrepreneurship)

4. Community Roles • Create positive community climate for entrepreneurship • Provide basic community infrastructure, keeping pace with needs • Package community support for local entrepreneurs (Center for Rural Entrepreneurship)

5. Sustainability as the Goal Starts with a commitment to the land Links people and natural resources Addresses all sectors and functions of society Embraces civic involvement Creates opportunities and preserves choices

6. Sustainable Development Is present and future oriented Connects environmental, social, and economic concerns Is place-based

7. Present and Future Oriented “…the capacity to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs” (Brundtland Commission, 1987)

8. Environmental, Social, and Economic Dimensions “…to enhance human productivity, reduce poverty and foster economic growth and opportunity together with environmental quality” (U.S. Government Vision Statement for World Summit on Sustainable Development, 2002)

9. Place-Based “We believe sustainable development begins at home…” (U.S. Government Vision Statement for World Summit on Sustainable Development, 2002)

10. Conservation in the 21st Century • Short- and long-term focus • Comprehensive / simultaneous solutions • Public and private sector collaboration • Place-based actions at multiple scales

11. USDA-Forest Service Mission “Sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the nation’s forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations” (FS Strategic Plan, 2000 Revision)

12. Land Type in the United States Other 26% Cropland20% Rangeland 26% Forestland 28% (FS RPA Assessment, 2000)

13. Forest Land Ownership in the U.S. State & Local Government 9.3% Non-Industrial Private Landowners 52.2% Forest Industry 9.1% Federal Government 27.4% (FS RPA Assessment, 2000)

14. Stakeholders • Federal agencies • Tribal, state, and local units of government • Private landowners • Business and industry • Conservation and environmental groups • Regional and community-based organizations • Other citizens

15. Forums and Networks • Multi-stakeholder Roundtables • Communities Committee of the 7th American Forest Congress • National Network of Forest Practitioners • National Urban & Community Forestry Advisory Council • Alliance of Community Trees • Lots more!

16. Criteria for Sustainable Forest Management • Biological diversity • Productive capacity of forest ecosystems • Forest ecosystem health and vitality • Soil and water resources • Forest contribution to global carbon cycles • Socio-economic benefits • Legal, institutional, and economic framework (Montreal Process, involving 12 countries including U.S.)

17. History of U.S. Commitment 1992 Earth Summit 1993 International Seminar of Experts; and Presidential Decision 1995 Santiago Declaration 1999 Roundtable on Sustainable Forests 2000 Federal Interagency Cooperation 2003 National Report on Sustainable Forests (Check FS webpage for document with more history)

18. Roundtable on Sustainable Forests National multi-stakeholder forum focusing on sustainable forest management through: Better data Better information Better decisions (Website: http://www.sustainableforests.net)

19. Multiple Sector-Based Efforts • Forests • Rangelands • Minerals / Energy • Water

20. Resource-Related Issues Forest fragmentation and conversion, especially in urbanizing areas Water quality and quantity, and watershed restoration Fire prevention and restoration, especially in the wildland/urban interface

21. Resource Issues, continued Exotic and invasive plants replacing native systems Stewardship jobs and business opportunities Forest land ownership changes Ecological benefits as community services

22. Local to Global Actions Local Unit Criteria & Indicator Development (LUCID) Community-based measurement State resource planning Eco-regional and national-level assessments United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF)

23. Leadership Issues • Address issues broad in scope • Work at multiple scales • Work across boundaries • Work with reduced resources • Mobilize partners and stakeholders • Work for meaningful outcomes

24. Challenge Make sustainable forest and resource management real to people where they live, work, and play in urban, suburban, and rural places

25. Basic Premises • Vital communities are part of healthy ecosystems • No community is in and of itself sustainable • Communities represent a scale and set of interactions that people can comprehend and affect

26. Sustainable Community Model Interconnected and integrated Economy Environment Economy Society Environment Society (Maureen Hart, Sustainable Measures)

27. Grassroots Opportunities Strengthen rural-urban linkages through regional cooperation Protect “working lands” in rural as well as urbanizing areas Integrate “green infrastructure” into local and regional plans Educate landowners about sustainable resource management practices

28. Opportunities, continued Unlock small business alternatives Reduce water pollution from land-based activities through agroforestry Address the impact of invasive species on agricultural and natural resources Foster intergovernmental and civic involvement in sustainable resource management

29. Benefits of Collaboration • Add expertise and resources to process • Gain additional perspectives on solutions • Develop common information and data bases • Build ownership and support for decisions • Develop trusting relationships

30. Forest Service Vision “People working together, sharing knowledge and resources, to achieve desired futures for our forests and communities.” (FS National Collaborative Stewardship Team, 1997)

31. Many Approaches • Search Conferencing / Participative Design Workshops • Communities of Interest / Open Space Decision-Making • Collaborative Learning • Economic Renewal • Lots of ‘home grown’ methods

32. Multiple Community Concepts • Communities of Place • Communities of Interest

33. Spectrum of Methods • Assisted negotiations e.g., facilitation, mediation, conflict assessment • Consensus-based processes e.g., community-based collaborations, negotiated rulemaking, policy dialogues

34. Public & Private Investments Conservation Practices Community Planning Sustainability Development Tools Landowner Planning Public Education

35. Collaboration Lessons • Build common ground • Create new opportunities for interaction • Craft meaningful, effective, and enduring processes • Focus on problem in new/different ways • Foster sense of responsibility and commitment • Remember…partnerships are people • Use proactive and entrepreneurial approach • Get help…give help (Wondolleck and Yaffee)

36. Collaboration Needs • Commitment – Support innovators • Internal communication – Involve staff in projects • External communication – Do outreach to key stakeholders • Competence – Provide training and technical support • Credibility – Fund and do monitoring (Brett KenCairn, Indigenous Community Enterprises)

37. Measuring Progress Progress Triangle Substance Procedures Relationships (Steve Daniels on Collaborative Learning)

38. Desired Community Indicators? • Increased use of the skills, knowledge, and abilities of local people • Strengthened relationships and communication • Improved community initiative, responsibility, and adaptability • Developed appropriately diverse and healthy economies, including family-wage jobs and locally owned businesses • Sustained healthy ecosystems with multiple community benefits (FS Economic Action Programs Strategic Plan, 2000)

39. Recap of Key Concepts • Entrepreneurship • Sustainable development • Sustainable forest / resource management • Collaboration • Measurement • Criteria and indicators

40. Contact Information Ruth McWilliams National Sustainable Development Coordinator USDA – Forest Service 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W. Stop Code 1123 Washington, D.C. 20250-1123 Phone: 202/205-1373; Fax: -1174 rmcwilliams@fs.fed.us www.fs.fed.us/sustained