Expanding Watershed Stewardship Capacity
WSN expands watershed stewardship capacity through two programs: Watershed Framework and Watershed Gatherings.
Watershed Framework: Building a Framework for Climate Resilience
The Water Solutions Network convened a group of high level land and water leaders to guide development of the WSN Watershed Framework. The Framework is designed to put us on a cross-sector, collaborative, watershed scale path toward climate resilience.
Forest Gatherings
Unleashing the Powers of Connection and Collaboration for Equitable and Sustainable Forest and Watershed Stewardship
Connecting
An immersive experience where decision-makers meet and camp out with locals. Hosted by the Tribe whose place we are visiting, all participants meet as people first and build relationships built on personal connection, instead of titles and politics. Our goal is to catalyze perpetual, cross-sector, cross-generational relationships that bridge differences and equalize influence.
Collaborating
Every Forest Gathering includes a modest restoration project. Projects are structured in a manner that centers equity by starting with the Tribal knowledge and expertise about the place and then inviting learning and collaboration as the project unfolds. The collaborative effort is instructive, offers an example of the potential for small collaborative actions to have big impacts, and expands the fabric of relationships within the group.
Engaging
Each gathering concludes with a policy discussion where locals sit as equals at the table with decision makers and contemplate the policy implications of the experience they shared. Participants are also invited to identify new collaborations they would like to pursue based on the new relationships and connections made during the Forest Gathering.