Natural Resources Leadership Academy
Collaborative Learning Workshop
The Evergreen State College
Olympia, Washington
October 20, 2004
remarks by Dr. Jeff Koenings, Ph.D., WDFW Director
Welcome! Your being here reinforces the idea that we all need to listen and learn throughout our careers about how natural resource issues can best be addressed. I would like to provide my viewpoint on why workshops like this are necessary----it's about changing how we work with our public and colleagues.
The nature of problems facing natural resource professionals has changed since we all started in this field:
- The issues have become more complex---moving from single species management to ecosystem wide approaches.
- In my opinion, the issues have become more controversial----the management of cougars is one example. People like to see them and to know they are there, but they don't like to live with them. How do you balance these needs?
- The issues have become more contentious---private property rights and the increasing need to involve those private lands to solve a resource issue.
- The issues have changed in scope----the landscape has become more fragmented and therefore less functional for fish and wildlife population sustainability. "Blocking up" has become the new buzzword, but that may involve increased public ownership of lands which can be resisted by local governments.
The tools at our disposal have not been part of our university education and have not evolved at a pace comparable to the issues before us:
- The regulatory framework is rigid although we are working on increased flexibility.
- Often we are forced to rely heavily on authority.
- Given that budgets for natural resources have been trending downward, there are fewer resources and yet greater responsibilities.
- Universities have focused entirely on managing a resource instead of on being a resource manager. Great for managing a critter, but poor at managing people's expectations.
It is also important to remember that many of our natural resource problems are the result of "progress" i.e., policy choices made at the time in the best interest of the general public.
- Reliance on natural resources to build communities, infrastructure, and, yes, the state economy.
- This reliance has involved cumulative effects of lawful activities over decades of time. Consider:
- Timber harvest---sometimes right down to the waterline.
- Water rights/appropriations---more water is available for use than what is flowing in the streams.
- Increased sport and commercial harvests---harvest rates that did approach 90%. i.e., 9 out of every 10 fish were harvested.
- Agricultural practices----irrigation and diking have resulted in estuary drainage and lost riparian habitats for crops.
- Hydroelectric dams---massive, permanent loss of habitat for both fish and wildlife.
I believe the public's expectation of government and how natural resources are to be managed in the public's trust has changed:
- The public more and more expects government to partner with them----not just as stakeholders, but as a true partner.
- The public expects more emphasis on solving problems and less emphasis on the use of authority.
- The public expects increased transparency in governmental decision making which goes beyond an agency's rule making authority.
- The public expects that natural resource decisions be frame worked by best available science.
These expectations demand a focus on developing citizen involved or based solutions.
- This requires developing new tools for natural resource professionals.
- A commitment to change not "what" we do, but "how" we do it.
- Must see the public as partners-they must be embraced not shunned or ignored.
- Greater emphasis on moving beyond communication and cooperation towards collaboration.
Why is this necessary? Seldom do natural resource issues involve simple, clear cut solutions and increasingly we find that a disgruntled public feels their preferred course of action is to address heavy handed implementation of regulatory policy by seeking legislative and political intervention.
The purpose of this training is to begin the process of providing our agency staff at all levels with a clear understanding of the need to develop and implement new and innovative approaches to natural resource problem solving based on communication, collaboration and transparency.
Again, its not "what" we do that people object to---its "how" we often times do it. Changing the "how" will enable this agency to better fulfill our mission of managing and protecting the fish and wildlife resources of this state.
Back to index
