Graduation Year

2016

Graduation Month

December

Document Type

Professional Paper

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science

School or Department

Forestry and Conservation, College of

Major

Wildlife Biology – Terrestrial

Faculty Mentor Department

Resource Conservation

Faculty Mentor

Martin Nie

Keywords

comanagement, bison, badlands national park, policy, natural resources

Subject Categories

Other Public Affairs, Public Policy and Public Administration | Recreation, Parks and Tourism Administration

Abstract

The Badger Two Medicine Area in the Lewis and Clark National Forest has faced conflict over management since the 1980s due to leasing of what is considered sacred land. Recently those leases were cancelled. However questions about how to manage the land still remain. This paper explores examples of comanagement between the federal government and Native American tribes in an effort to understand what options and obstacles the Blackfeet tribe will face in future management of the Badger Two Medicine Area. I examined the National Bison Range and Badlands National Park efforts at comanagement in depth and additional current comanagement situations with other federal agencies. Background information is provided on both of these topics. This policy piece found that comanagement suffered at both the National Bison Range and Badlands National Park due to poor communication, political and personal issues within agencies, and issues beyond agency control, such as funding. In situations where comanagement has been successful, strong interpersonal relationships and effective communication have played a significant role.

Honors College Research Project

1

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© Copyright 2016 Rachel Grabenstein