Collaboration, Compromise, and Conflict: How to Form Partnerships in Environmental Assessment and Monitoring

Partnerships between agencies and academicians to develop solutions for environmental problems have faced substantial difficulties. Often, the relationship is based on specific research questions supported by grants. Federal agencies responsible for environmental monitoring often form partnerships with state and local agencies to accomplish large-scale projects. However, collaboration among agencies with differing objectives often leads to conflict. Differences in missions or legislative mandates among agencies are often the basis for the inability to collaborate on mutually beneficial projects. The development of regionally based biological expectations or “biocriteria” is an important stepping stone in reaching a consensus and consolidating objectives among agencies. This approach could bridge conflicting monitoring strategies and objectives and provide common ground for assessment and interpretation of the biological data among local, state, and federal agencies. Frequent conversation and open dialogue, including both telephone and face-to-face meetings, will build partnerships and establish trust among cooperators.