Facilitator thanks community for role in forest plan meetings
The Meridian Institute would like thank everyone who participated in the Flathead National Forest plan revision stakeholder collaboration meetings over the past eight months. It has been our pleasure to work with the forest staff and more than 165 people who attended up to 16 evening meetings to talk about how the forest should be managed.
Participants included wildlife experts, snowmobilers, wilderness advocates, mountain bike enthusiasts, timber company employees, horse packers, rafters, summer motorized users, aviators, county commissioners, students, people who simply care about the forest because it is in their back yard, and many others. Other interested stakeholders contributed comments electronically.
During the process, individuals from varying perspectives discussed their interests, and offered ideas about how the forest might accommodate a wide variety of uses while conserving its priceless natural and cultural values. The process was challenging, complicated, and messy at times, which is expected in a multi-stakeholder setting dealing with complex and controversial subjects. And, as anticipated, not everyone agreed about how to achieve the “greatest good” for all. However, participants engaged respectfully with one another, became more informed about forest issues, offered creative ideas about how to bridge their differences, and forged common ground on several fronts.
Those who gave so generously of their time and wisdom contributed to making a better forest plan and demonstrated that civility can prevail even on divisive issues.
We are proud of the integrity, transparency, and openness of this endeavor. Most of all we are grateful for the chance to help interested stakeholders invest in the future of their national forest. There will be many more opportunities for stakeholders to engage in the coming months and years.
In closing, we are honored to have been part of the process and wish the best for this wonderful community and extraordinary forest.
Connie Lewis, Meridian Institute, Dillon, Colo.