Welcome to The Collaboration Site. Engineered as a full support site for collaborative groups committed to resolving resource use conflicts throughout the interior west.	We'll help you get started and keep going! Direct you to funding sources! Supply the latest news affecting your work! Collaboration at work - stories from the field! Update you on legislation and regulations!

IN THE NEWS Stewardship Contracting–wave of the future or "collaboration lite?" by carol daly, flathead forestry project Stewardship contracting was designed by Congress to be a valuable tool for carrying out multi- faceted ecosystem restoration projects and addressing related community needs. Early projects showed stewardship's promise, but lately it's being treated more like the proverbial one-trick pony.   READ MORE >> IN THE NEWS Instant collaboration   Environmentalists in the Mountain West say they are hoping an unexpected deal struck with Dixie National Forest will set a precedent for future amiable negotiations with Forest Service officials. "Both parties expected it to be 15 minutes with an 'agree to disagree' and 'we'll see you in court,'" said Kevin Mueller, of the Utah Environmental Congress. "But when we gave them a proposal and they didn't have a knee-jerk reaction against it, we saw it wasn't going to be impossible."   SEE FULL STORY >> LEGISLATION & REGULATIONS Endangered Species Act The "no suprises" policy and "incidental take" permits have been in the news recently, but what do they mean to endangered species protection? READ MORE >> IN THE NEWS Ranch conserves wildlife habitat An easement struck between ranchers, the Wyoming chapter of The Nature Conservancy and the Natural Resources Conservation Service will protect almost 5,000 acres of wildlife habitat. By providing protection from future development, the conservation easement means that sage grouse and their chicks can migrate each spring to summer range in the foothills of the Wind River Mountains–20 miles and a thousand-foot climb between the Winds and the Red Desert. SEE FULL STORY >>

UPCOMING EVENTS Cooperative Conservation Conference A White House Conference on Cooperative Conservation will be held August 29-31 in St. Louis. Over 1,100 invited participants are expected to attend in an effort to identify ideas for conservation policies and initiatives and to exchange information on successful partnerships. READ MORE >> IN THE NEWS Drilling opponents improbable allies– Tweeti Blancett strikes again The three-fold increase in the number of oil and gas drilling permits approved by the Bush administration over the past six years has forged unlikely alliances in the western United States among groups who want to preserve public hunting, hiking and ranching lands. READ MORE >> CONTACT US Ross Johnson 32 South Ewing, Suite 326 Helena, Montana 59601 Phone: (406) 495-1069 Toll Free: (888) 495-0757 Fax: (406) 495-1074   The Red Lodge Clearinghouse is a program of the Liz Claiborne Art Ortenberg Foundation.

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