https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/nres_rpt/22
Date of Award
8-2021
Degree Name
MS in Environmental Sciences and Management
Department
Natural Resources Management
College
College of Agriculture, Food, and Environmental Sciences
Advisor
Nicholas Babin
Advisor Department
Natural Resources Management
Advisor College
College of Agriculture, Food, and Environmental Sciences
Abstract
The proliferation of collaborative partnerships across the western United States and the lack of tools and protocols to evaluate them have been well documented. As the number and types (conservation-based, policy actions, information sharing) of collaboratives rises, there is a need for research that aims to evaluate these partnerships' performance and collaborative process considering their importance and potential to solve complex ecological, economic, and social problems. This study aims to contribute to this pool of research by interviewing the Steering Committee (SC) members of the Central Coast Rangeland Coalition (CCRC), a volunteer-based and information-sharing rangeland collaborative coalition. We evaluate and assess the organization-based SC perceptions on traditional and less traditional factors and barriers to success/criteria, including 1) Setting concrete and measurable goals 2) Implementing projects and programs 3) Conducting monitoring of outcomes 4) Power structure and decision making 5) Diversity and wide Inclusion and the less traditional criteria of 6) Trust. We comment on whether the organization is succeeding or could improve on specific criteria aspects by comparing perceptions of success to their mission statement or what their organization has promised to do. In addition to the coalition's assessment, we hope to focus on the concept of trust, which is noted in collaborative conservation literature as vital to organization functioning but is rarely looked at and explored. Overall, this research hopes to 1) Add to the needed research that attempts to evaluate collaborative resource partnerships, 2) Evaluate the CCRC based on factors identified in the literature and the fulfillment of their mission goal, and 3) provide some insight on the importance and value of trust within collaboratives.