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Abstract
Because most land, including forest land, in the United States is privately owned, it is clear the private sector should be a major cooperator in "Partners in Flight" efforts to conserve neotropical migratory birds. The "private sector" is more than forest landowners, whether corporate or noncorporate; it includes agricultural landowners, mining interests, housing and commercial land developers, and others. The private sector also includes the general public as users of products generated from private lands and as stockholders in corporate landowners. Private landowners are extremely diverse and vary considerably in their land ownership objectives. With that diversity comes a unique opportunity for cooperation in addressing natural resource issues, or controversy and conflict. We present a case study of one successful cooperative partnership, the Black Bear Conservation Committee, and identify reasons it has succeeded. Examples of other successful partnerships between private landowners and other non-governmental organizations, state agencies, and federal agencies are described. Successful partnerships will require all partners leave "hidden agendas" behind, respect the objectives of each other, and contribute something to the partnership. We propose that the challenge to Partners in Flight members is to help private landowners define their role in neotropical migratory bird conservation within the context of their land ownership and management objectives, and help them fulfill that role.
Parent Publication
Citation
Wigley, T. Bently; Sweeney, James M. 1993. Cooperative partnerships and the role of private landowners. In: Finch, Deborah M.; Stangel, Peter W. (eds.). Status and management of neotropical migratory birds: September 21-25, 1992, Estes Park, Colorado. Gen. Tech. Rep. RM-229. Fort Collins, Colo.: Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Forest Service: 39-44
