Our Work

We work in varied landscapes and communities, centered around core areas of expertise.

Collaboratives and Networks

We work with core partners to design ongoing collaboratives, coalitions and networks, collaborative governance structures, shared leadership and funding, strategic plans, active working groups. Some examples include:

Networks:

Southwest Collaboratives Support Network
Arizona Cross-Watershed Network
Western Collaborative Conservation Network
Network for Arizona Trails

Collaboratives:

Verde Front Sustainable Recreation Collaborative
Lower San Pedro Collaborative
Eastern Mojave Conservation Collaborative
Lower Gila River Collaborative
Southwest New Mexico Collaborative
Greater Chino Valley Collaborative

Forest and Watershed Management

Watershed collaboratives deal with a wide variety of issues and challenges including invasive species management, springs restoration, and connecting with local communities. SDR works with groups across jurisdictions to ensure continuity of efforts across the watershed and strengthen relationships and collective action among local stakeholders.

Forest management creates new opportunities for multi-benefit and multi-interest solutions. SDR's role in the forest management sector has proven successful in designing and conducting effective collaboration and public involvement processes.

Relevant projects include:

Rio de Flag Watershed Planning
Escalante River Watershed Partnership
Lower Gila River Collaborative
Cross-Watershed Network
Arizona Forest Restoration statewide workshop
Coronado National Forest Leadership Team facilitation
Four Forest Restoration Initiative collaboration support
North Kaibab Plateau Collaboration
Tonto National Forest Plan Revision

Outdoor Recreation Planning

We work with communities, governments, and other stakeholders to agree on recreation-related priorities, develop regional recreation plans and foster ongoing collaborative efforts addressing recreation and its management in the Southwest.

Relevant projects include:

Eastern Arizona Trails Collaborative
Flagstaff Trails Initiative
Greater Chino Valley Collaborative
Greater Prescott Trails Planning
Greater Santa Fe Recreation Partnership
Mount Elden Dry Lake Hills Recreation Planning
North Valley Outdoor Network
Rim Country Trails Working Group
Santa Fe National Forest Recreation Planning
Verde Front Sustainable Recreation Collaborative

Climate Adaptation Planning and Engagement

SDR understands and helps partners navigate the intersections of land use, environmental resources, community values, economics, public health, and development.

Relevant projects include:

City of Tucson community climate listening sessions
Climate-smart landscape conservation design
Southwest Adaptation Forums
Southwest Climate Adaptation and Science Center strategic planning

Collaborative Conservation

SDR works with partners to address the issues at the nexus of conservation, preservation, and development. Collaborative conservation is the process of creating a more sustainable future for peoples and places by engaging stakeholders to jointly solve problems through collective learning and action.

Relevant projects include:

Lower San Pedro Collaborative
Escalante River Watershed Partnership
Eastern Mojave Conservation Collaborative
Gila River Basin Native Fish Conservation Program
Western Collaborative Conservation Network

Urban Planning and Community Stewardship

Effective change comes from understanding local communities' needs and goals - people may prioritize values differently or sometimes disagree about what needs to be done. SDR understands the intersections of land use, environmental resources, mobility, community identity, economics, public health, and development and helps facilitate dialogues that lead to viable policy/action-oriented outcomes.

Relevant projects include:

City of Flagstaff Thorpe Park Annex Planning
Coalition for Farmland Preservation
Imagine Greater Tucson regional visioning
City of Tucson Complete Streets Coordinating Council
Plan Tucson
Sedona Community Plan Update

Strategic Planning and Governance

SDR provides strategic planning support for organizations, inter-institutional partnerships, and place-based collaboratives.

Relevant projects include:

USDA Water for Agriculture Project
City of Flagstaff Water Conservation Plan
Grand Canyon Youth Strategic Plan
Borderlands Restoration Network Strategic Plan
Partnership for the National Trails System
Southwest Climate and Adaptation Science Center

Working Landscapes and Adaptive Management

Relevant projects include:

Eastern Mojave Conservation Collaborative
Las Cienegas National Conservation Area Collaborative Adaptive Management
San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area Adaptive Management
Coalition for Farmland Preservation
Altar Valley Watershed Restoration Plan
Fossil Creek Comprehensive River Management Plan
Manureshed Action Network