Landscapes: Enabling Partnerships in the Northeast Megaregion

Advancing large landscape conservation means learning to work together and creatively engage non-traditional partners and funders. Building local and regional capacity to do just that was at the heart of Regional Plan Association’s Peer Exchange Program for landscape conservation practitioners. This year-long effort provided funding and technical expertise to organizations in four distinct landscapes within the 13-State Northeast Megaregion.

The broad purpose of the Peer Exchange Program was to support the conservation of important landscapes, grow professional capacity of landscape practitioners, and foster relationships with organizations facing comparable challenges. An emerging conservation initiative was paired with an established organization to provide guidance and support for advancing a landscape conservation initiative. Each initiative convened a workshop to foster collaboration among stakeholders and advance a regional conservation project. Reflecting specific needs and varying maturity of each effort, products included strategic conservation plans, grant application resources, and communication materials. Together, these tools formed the basis for outreach to conservation partners, local government and other stakeholders.

Scarce funding has highlighted the need to build partnerships that leverage mutual priorities to share resources. The Peer Exchange Program participants found that articulating a shared vision, developing leadership and capacity within their organizations, and considering issues like economic development helped to substantially increase support for their large landscape initiatives. Such collaboration can enable the conservation community to align protection and management of individual properties while providing a platform for engaging non-traditional partners in their work.