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Learning Exchanges and Peer Assist Summaries
Wildfire Crisis Strategy Peer Learning Series
In early 2024, RVCC convened a series of peer learning sessions on the implementation of the Forest Service's Wildfire Crisis Strategy (WCS) together with partners from the Fire Adapted Communities Learning Network, the Forest Stewards Guild, the Northern Colorado Fireshed Collaborative, and the Northern Arizona University Ecological Restoration Institute. The series, funded by the Forest Service State Private and Tribal Forestry, focused on perspectives from on-the-ground implementers in WCS investment landscapes, creating space to share challenges and opportunities, generate ideas, and build support networks. We were thrilled to hear that the series also functioned as a space of solidarity and hope building for folks working at the ground level of this monumental and unprecedented effort. This report captures some of most frequently expressed sentiments from the series.
INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT AND JOBS ACT (IIJA) COLLABORATIVE CAPACITY PEER-LEARNING SESSION
Among its many wildfire risk reduction provisions, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act included $100 million in funding to the Secretary of Agriculture to support collaboration and collaboration-based activities. The need to fund place-based collaboratives and partnerships as crucial initiators and facilitators of on-the-ground implementation has been a consistent theme voiced by our coalition partners over the years. As such, RVCC has continued to track and support the Forest Service’s implementation of this collaborative capacity provision, including through a peer-learning session about how Forest Service regions spent an initial allocation of these IIJA dollars, and how that reflects the nature of collaboration and collaboration support strategies in different parts of the country. This short document captures regional report-outs and summarizes overall themes from the peer-learning session.
Building All-Lands Capacity Across the Northern Blues
Peer-Learning Exchange Workshop
In December 2021, RVCC co-hosted a virtual peer exchange for the Northern Blues All Lands Partnership in NE Oregon and SE Washington. This workshop was designed to build relationships within implementation-focused all-lands teams, foster mutual learning through presentations from subject matter experts and other all-lands groups, and build capacity by apply new knowledge to an active project design process. We prioritized several project team break-out discussions throughout the training, culminating in a practical project-mapping exercise and discussion of next steps. Produced December 2021.
GOVERNANCE STRUCTURES FOR PARTNERS WORKING ACROSS LARGE LANDSCAPES: KEY TAKEAWAYS
This summary was developed from two peer-learning sessions organized by Rural Voices for Conservation Coalition and Oregon State University Extension/the Ecosystem Workforce Program. The sessions in January and March, 2021, were attended by members of four landscape-scale, restoration-focused partnerships operating in northern Colorado, northern Arizona, southern Oregon and northeastern Oregon. These takeaways reflect our discussions about how to create and improve governance documents and structures to better support partners working together across large areas, particularly in considering potential or current CFLRP awards. Produced March 2021.
Fostering Your Forest Workforce: A Peer Learning Exchange for Nonprofit Organizations
Rural Voices for Conservation Coalition (RVCC), Ecosystem Workforce Program (EWP), and Lomakatsi Restoration Project (LRP) co-hosted a peer learning exchange in Ashland, Oregon on the topic of forest workforces and community-based organizations. 21 participants from 11 organizations and five states took part in the event. Produced January 2020.
All Lands Peer Learning Exchange with Forest Stewards Guild Southwest chapter and Oregon State University
RVCC partnered with The Forest Stewards Guild Southwest chapter and Oregon State University to host an All Lands Peer Learning Exchange in Grants, NM. The goals of the peer learning exchange were to expand upon new tools & ideas available to improve the practice of all lands work, connect to a community of practitioners and forming new peer relationships, and improve the understanding of the strategies, programs and authorities for operationalizing all-lands work. Produced October 2018.
ALL-LANDS PARTNERSHIPS IN SOUTHERN-CENTRAL OREGON: REPORTING OUT FROM A PEER LEARNING EXCHANGE
RVCC hosted a peer learning exchange in Klamath Falls to bring together all-lands partners in Lake, Klamath, Jackson, and Josephine Counties. Over 60 participants representing a range of landowner, nonprofit organization, state and federal agency, private sector, and other perspectives attended. Presenters, facilitators, and attendees were asked to discuss how they were accomplishing all-lands work and key lessons they were learning. Produced May 2018.
Peer Assist with Southern Willamette Forest Collaborative, Wallowa Resources, & Integrated Biomass Resources
RVCC hosted a peer assist for the Southern Willamette Forest Collaborative (SWFC) to visit Wallowa Resources (WR) in Enterprise, OR. Four steering committee members and two staff spent the day learning about the WR organizational model and visited Integrated Biomass Resources (IBR). This assist provided an opportunity for SWFC to explore new ways to scale up both the SWFC organization work and Community Firewood Program project work. Produced April 2019.