What is Coordinated Resource Management (CRM)?

  CRM works on the principle that "none of us knows as much about something as all of us."

  CRM is a process for bringing people together to avoid conflicts in the use of natural resources.

  CRM was developed as a result of natural resource conflicts on public lands.

  CRM is finding a larger role in private land related issues.

  CRM uses local people to solve local problems.

  CRM is voluntary, non regulatory, works through consensus.
 

Consensus is defined as  a collective opinion from a group derived from open communications in a supportive climate where all feel they have a "fair" chance to influence the decision and all can express (publicly) their support of the decision.

A decision made through consensus benefits from the support of all involved; everyone works for its success.

A decision made by voting garners support from those who voted for it, while those who voted against it may lobby for its failure.
 

  threatening to private property
  mandatory
  to be used as a lever to achieve resource management
  magic
 

  Consensus -  rather than voting.  All will publicly support the group's decision.
  Commitment -  to the CRM process and plans which are developed.
  Involvement -  of all interested and impacted parties.
  Needs not Positions -  are addressed.  Needs can be met. Positions are solutions.
  Voluntary -   participation by all.
  Authority -   to speak for your group.

Questions to be answered:
  Is the outcome in doubt?
  How many people/interests are involved?
  Are the participants willing to participate?
  Do the participants have sufficient authority to act?
  Are the participants willing to commit the time and resources necessary to come to a decision?
  Are the participants willing to use CRM as the primary means for making a decision?
 

The goal of the facilitator is to assure meeting participants that this is "the best darn meting that I've ever had."

Facilitators serve at the pleasure of the group to help them successfully work through THEIR AGENDA.

A facilitator:
  Is responsible for the process, not the content.
  Defends members from attack
  Does not evaluate members' ideas
  Creates an effective working environment
  Helps the group stay on task
  Is neutral to the meeting content
  Makes sure everyone has a chance to participate
  Suggests how to proceed
  Builds consensus

A facilitator helps the group with two main functions:
  To stay on task.
  To move the decision process forward.

Facilitation ensures that everyone in a group is included in what is going on, and that what each person says is heard by the group as a whole.

Even if consensus is not reached, the process may have been successful in determining the issues, concerns, and options available about the resource.

Jim Johnson   Johnsonj@ces.sdstate.edu
Marty Beutler  Beutlerm@ces.sdstate.edu
(605) 394-2236
SDSU West River Ag Center
1905 Plaza Blvd. Rapid City, SD 57702-9302