Whole Systems

Collaboration

Goal Setting

Funding Management and Restoration

Regional Context

Monitoring and Adapting

OPTIMISM FOR THE FUTURE

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SNEP assessments reveal a great wealth of knowledge, expertise, and involvement in the ecological integrity of the Sierra. The concern of many individuals and groups for the regions future is of long standing and well known. Less publicized is that, in some areas, people with strong ties to the region have already joined together to assess environmental conditions and to create dynamic regional strategies for resource management and environmental stewardship. In the process, diverse communities are being engaged in the search for solutions. As dialogues about collaboration begin to occur across ownerships and jurisdictions, one can anticipate the development of further solutions to issues that are best observed and addressed at the landscape or watershed scale.
After many years of attempting unsuccessfully to declare various natural resources policies, agencies now realize that no single optimal policy can be delineated, much less implemented. Local and regional approaches to problem solving, however, are complementary to central planning and can make positive contributions to ecosystem conservation. Regional and subregional delineation, as it occurs, will further involve shared responsibility, power, and leadership by individuals and groups who are quite capable of working with public resource agencies to develop solutions to many resource management problems. Agencies can learn from people while not abdicating responsibility for ensuring that the public interest is protected. Public enthusiasm can make an enormous difference. If the energy and optimism now present in the region and in the larger Sierra community can be embraced, society will gain a great opportunity to move resource policy forward in the Sierra. On the other hand, if public concern and awareness are not channeled into current efforts to address the environmental issues in the Sierra, many institutions and individuals who now willingly give their time and energy to this cause may become discouraged and turn away from collaborative efforts.
SNEPs research, assessments, and strategies offer confidence that a change in approach to management of natural resources and ecosystems is possible, desirable, and indeed already under way in parts of the Sierra. The next phase in improving environmental quality in many areas of the Sierra involves less focus on redrawing jurisdictional boundaries or enacting more stringent mandates and more focus on building coalitions and stronger communities.