Sierra Cascades Dialog Sessions
Goals
The Dialogs focused on the future of the Sierra Nevada and Cascades, with a specific focus on the national forests in these regions. Dialogs provided an opportunity for learning, shared meaning, aligned actions, mutual respect and understanding different perspectives.
The goals were to:
- Bring together public and private land managers to grapple with an "all lands" approach to planning and conservation, beginning with fire protection issues
- Lay the foundation for Forest Plan revisions
- Develop stakeholder collaborative capacity to address challenging complex issues on a broad scale
- Create shared responsibility and understanding
- Give people voice to express concerns and provide an avenue for input
- Build relationships and trust among all stakeholders
Dialog Sessions
Session 1 - "Leadership Intent & Ecological Restoration" - Nov. 4, 2010
Session 2 - "Values, Attitudes and Beliefs" - Feb. 24, 2011
Session 3 - "Improving Social & Economic Conditions in Rural Forest Communities" - Oct. 12, 2011
Session 4 - "Preparing for Forest Planning" - Dec. 15, 2011
Session 5 - "Collaborative Planning in Forest Plan Revision" - Mar. 1, 2012
Session 6 - "Adaptive Management in Forest Planning: Tools and Techniques" - May 10, 2012
Session 7 - "Recreation: Social and Economic Opportunities and Impacts" - Sep. 27, 2012
Session 8 - "Science Synthesis" - Jan. 24, 2013
Session 9 - "Bioregional Assessment" - Jan. 25, 2013
Session 10 - "Bioregional Assessment" - May 30, 2013
Session 11 - "Still Standing — Wildland Fire and Resiliency" - Dec. 12, 2013
Session 12 - "Water, water, water" - Feb. 27, 2014
Session 13 - Exploring the Range of Public Views - April 30, 2014
Overview
From 2010-2015, the Dialogs brought together participants with diverse perspectives about natural resource topics of concern across the Sierra Nevada and Cascades. In doing so, the Dialogs provided a foundation for improved relationships and understanding among stakeholders and the U.S. Forest Service that has benefited forest management more widely in the region. The goal was to create shared understanding among participants with diverse opinions.
Outcomes
Agreements and understanding achieved through the Dialog Group helped inform Forest Service decisions. Outcomes were shared with the Regional Leadership Team and other staff of the Forest Service. (The Regional Leadership Team includes the Regional Forester, Deputy Regional Forester, key regional leaders, and the Forest Supervisors.)
Outcomes often took the form of Statements of Understanding. These Statements might consist of a common set of definitions, agreements, proposed strategies, issue summaries, etc. The Statements were driven by the content of the discussion.
Participation
All meetings were open to the public. The Dialogs strove for age, cultural, geographic and socio-economic diversity among participants.