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<br />~l <br />'.....-) <br />~ <br />::-, <br />:"TC= <br />.... <br /> <br />Southwest Strateuv <br /> <br />II <br /> <br />435 Montano NE <br />Albuquerque, New Mexico 87107 <br />505-761~8912 - 505-761-8947 (FAX) <br />www.swstrategy.org <br /> <br />Accomplishments 1999 <br /> <br />Background <br />In November 1997 USDA, USDI and 000 agency leadership be- <br />gan to collaborate on approaches to resolving natural resource and <br />cultural resource issues in Arizona and New Mexico. The Regional <br />Executive Committee (REC), an irriergovemmental executive group, <br />was formed to guide the developmerri and Implementation of the <br />Southwest Strategy. The Southwest Strategy Coordination Office <br />provides administrative, coordinative, and implementation support <br />for the REC and its worlt groups. A Southwest Strategy Memoran- <br />dum of Understanding was signed by the federal members of the <br />REC, formalizing its interagency relationship. <br /> <br />THEMES <br /> <br />DEFINE ISSUES AND VISIONS FOR THE SOUTHWEST <br /> <br />ASSESS AND LEARN FROM NElWORKING <br /> <br />RESOURCES FOR CAPACITY BUILDING AND <br />CONFLICT RESOLUTION <br /> <br />THE SOUTHWEST STRATEGY IS <br />A PART OF HOW WE OPERATE <br /> <br />Southwest Strategy Work Groups <br /> <br />Worlt groups are subcommittees of the REC and develop seamless, current, and accessible information f~r resol.ution on <br />both pressing and long-term issues of concem. They assist in developing policy recommendations and coordlna!e With other <br />inter-organizational efforts where appropriate. In addition, worlt groups develop recommended pro.cesses to ~mprove the <br />performance of participating agencies in areas of public service. Southwest Strategy Agency Coordinators assist greatly In <br />worlt group efforts. <br /> <br />Community Development <br /> <br />. . Finished first draft of a 'Business Development Guide"that <br />lists programs and services available to individuals inter- <br />ested in community development to encourage use of sus- <br />tainable management practices. <br /> <br />ESA Section 7 Stream/in/llg <br /> <br />. Developed a long-term strategy for streamlining consulta- <br />tions under the Endangered Species Act in New Mexico <br />and Arizona. The strategy was designed to assist in ac- <br />complishing more efficient and timely consultations. <br /> <br />Rangeland Management <br /> <br />. Drafted a revised version of . A Guide to the Laws and Ter- <br />minology Federal Land Management. "This guide outlines <br />rules and regulations pertaining to livestock grazing and <br />other land use issues. <br /> <br />Information Resource Management <br /> <br />. Conducted an assessmerri orthe wide variety of electronic <br />communication hardware and software being used among <br />fweral agencies, with rewmmendations on surmounting <br />the electronic communications barriers currently in place. <br />. Began initial development of a website www.swstrategy.org <br />to provide easier electronic distribution of Southwest Strat- <br />egy information. <br />. Developed a web publishing policy outlining responsibili- <br />ties for. web page creation. <br /> <br />Scientific Information <br /> <br />. EstabliShed a worlt group website on southwest research <br />activities. <br />. Initiated a list of research expertise from USGS, FWS, <br />EPA, BLM, USFS and NPS. <br />. Initiated a list of ongoing and existing scientific informa- <br />tion collection activities. <br /> <br />Collaborative Implementation <br /> <br />. Sponsored the Community Based Partnerships for a <br />Healthy Environment workshop in Safford, AZ and <br />Cloudcroft, NM. The courses represent the Soutnwest <br />strategy's commitment to capacity building exercises in <br />the govemment-public arena and were attended by over <br />100 community leaders and interested citizens. Follow <br />up meetings took place to discuss community concems <br />of wolf reintroduction efforts and alternative livestock man- <br />agemerri on public lands in Graham County, AZ. <br />. Sponsored Environmental Justice training in Albuquer- <br />que, NM on September 28-30. The training was presented <br />by the Environmental Protection Agency, Region 8. Over <br />75 trainees representing federal, state, county and tribal <br />governments; universities and the private sector attended <br />the three sessions. <br />. Sponsored or participated in numerous collaborative dis- <br />cussions and worlting sessions including a facilitated <br />meeting to discuss joint, comprehensive planning among <br />all affected jurisdictions around Lake Havasu City, JlZ.. <br /> <br />r <br />