Waterfall

Few conflicts feel as high-stakes as a dispute over natural resources.

The water, wildlife, and lands that sustain us are finite and fragile, and the potential outcomes of a conflict often feel critical to all involved.

Your goal is to gain support to move forward with a project that impacts natural resources or preserves a scarce resource. This might involve protecting or sustaining a scarce natural resource or gaining support to move forward. Our goal is to move multiple groups from fear and uncertainty to clarity and confidence about the path ahead.

That’s where our experience comes into play.

Every case is different and requires a dynamic process to reach this goal while ensuring everyone feels heard and understood. Based on decades of working in natural resource consensus building, we have come to understand the perspectives of many diverse stakeholders. This experience helps us earn the trust of everyone at the table and move the process forward.

We’ve worked with a wide range of stakeholders and partners, including:

  • Government agencies, nonprofits, and businesses

  • Construction, architecture, engineering, and science professionals

  • Environmental groups and community-based conservation collaboratives

  • Farmers, ranchers, fishermen, and watermen

  • Citizen groups including homeowners’ associations, and religious organizations

And many more. Book a free consult to talk more about your specific needs.

Farmers

“Richard is a very thoughtful and objective facilitator with both broad and deep knowledge of conservation, legal, business, and facilitation matters. I have not met another facilitator with the unique skill set that Richard has. He is also easy to work with, highly trustworthy, and genuinely interested in forging lasting solutions to conservation challenges.”

John Giordanengo, Principal Restoration Ecologist

“Over the last three years I have worked closely with Rich Alper. Together we have co-created a program to build the collaborative capacity of members of the community based conservation efforts across seven Rocky Mountain states. This requires an understanding of natural resource issues and community context. Rich has helped our team hone their critical thinking, communication, decision-making and group dynamic skills.”

Heather Knight, Former Associate Director - Practice Program, Center for Collaborative Conservation, Warner College of Natural Resources, Colorado State University, and Retired from The Nature Conservancy of Colorado and Laramie Foothills Project Director

Need help navigating your natural resource dispute?

Natural Resource Management Case Studies

Water Processing Plant

Potomac River

INTER-JURISDICTIONAL WATER POLLUTION MANAGEMENT

Summary:
The Department of Justice filed suit on behalf of the U.S. EPA against nine state, county, and municipal governments. The lawsuit claimed a massive regional water treatment plant exceeded its permitted treatment capacity after heavy rainfall and caused significant pollution in the Potomac River.

Patuxent River

Patuxent River

“WILD AND SCENIC” DESIGNATION

Summary:
Due to considerable disagreement among multiple groups regarding the Patuxent River’s designation as “Wild and Scenic,” we conducted a situation assessment involving 40+ stakeholder interviews to explore whether the parties might find common ground for such a designation.

Water Rights Dispute

Water Rights Dispute

ALLOCATION OF WATER SUPPLY

Summary:
Three parties–a developer, a private school, and a homeowner’s association (HOA)–were unable to negotiate an agreement regarding their rights to their collective water supply allocated by the county. Each party wanted access to the limited water supply for specific purposes.

Conflict or indecision can stall momentum.

Organizations risk losing staff, donors, partners and investors while internal conflict impedes change.

But it’s possible to find common ground.

Experienced, active facilitation creates forward momentum by uncovering solutions based on common desires and goals.