Partnerships
The Carson National Forest has a long history of working with partners to sustain forest health and accomplish important resource work. Our partners are vital to accomplishing our mission. Partners include other federal agencies, the state of New Mexico, local counties, sportsman groups, conservation organizations, universities and private individuals. Learn more or get involved!
Partnerships and Shared Stewardship Explained
Land Management Plan Direction
The Carson National Forest Land Management Plan provides a strategic and practical framework to implement projects on the forest with partnerships. The following is from page 154.
Successful implementation of the land management plan will require the development of new and existing collaborative partnerships with Federal, State, and local governments; federally recognized tribes and pueblos; non-profit organizations; private landowners; and the public. Collaborative partnerships may include identifying, planning, funding, and implementing projects and activities together with others.
Partnership opportunities begin with building strong relationships. Partnerships with rural historic communities, land grant-merced and acequia governing bodies, and federally recognized tribes will improve trust and contribute to projects that best provide for cultural, social, and economic needs. Partnerships with other government entities and nonprofit organizations will increase the Carson’s ability to do quality restoration work and to develop and provide improved recreation opportunities.
The Forest Service does not expect to have the personnel or funding resources to successfully execute the many projects desired by the public and communities who use the Carson National Forest. Partnering with others across boundaries creates a dynamic of shared work, assets, and ideas and will lead to ecological, social, and cultural projects that benefit the greater forest community.
Desired conditions make up the aspirational vision that guides actions taken on the ground.
- Partners and volunteers are a collaborative network that increases capacity for managing forest resources, assists in communicating with and educating the public, and is a crucial component to achieving short- and long-term mutually shared goals (e.g., restoration, monitoring, sustainable traditional and cultural uses, and sustainable recreation).
- Open communication with partners about expectations and partnering opportunities encourages growth in existing relationships and promotes new partnerships. The open exchange of information promotes collaborative development of Forest priorities, a connection to place and its history and a sense of stewardship.
- Partnerships improve landscape-scale management across ownership boundaries to find solutions to ecological and societal issues.
- Volunteer and partnership opportunities continue to expand over time but remain within the Carson’s management capacity.
Management approaches related to partnerships are integrated throughout this plan in other sections.
- Consider increasing internal knowledge through training in grants and agreements and the various authorities that facilitate the creation of formal partnerships.
- Consider collaborating with academia, State and private agencies, Forest Service Rocky Mountain Research Station and other groups to expand monitoring capabilities including the use of citizen science.