About

Objective

The objective of this workshop was to facilitate peer-to-peer learning among land managers, forest restoration industry and contractors, and collaborative stakeholders around innovative implementation efficiency and effectiveness strategies.

Need

There are a wide variety of innovative, efficient restoration practices being utilized on individual National Forests of Central and Eastern Oregon. We recognized the need for peer-to-peer learning opportunities between collaborative groups, Forest Service staff, forest industry, and contractors to utilize these innovative, efficient strategies. This workshop provided an avenue for this kind of peer-to-peer learning with the goal of reducing costs per acre of restoration, increasing trust and transparency and increasing collaborative engagement in implementation processes.

Overview

The multi-day workshop engaged forest collaborative members, forest industry, contractors, and Forest Service staff in high-level, technical conversations and peer-to-peer learning opportunities related to understanding the benefits and challenges of innovative implementation efficiency and effectiveness strategies. The workshop was designed to:

• Provide peer-to-peer learning between individual National Forests of Central and Eastern Oregon
• Share lessons learned (successes/challenges) among forest industry, contractors, Forest Service staff, and forest collaborative groups
• Encourage collaborative engagement throughout implementation as well as during planning

Long term desired outcomes included:

• Per-acre costs of restoration making implementation funds available for more on-the-ground restoration work
• Increased trust and transparency through increasing collaborative engagement throughout implementation
• Increased understanding of implementation processes by collaborative members

Audience

The workshop successfully provided a forum for high-level technical exchange among forest collaborative members, forest industry, contractors, and Forest Service staff. This required a baseline of knowledge related to implementation, although those without a technical background were still welcomed to attend.