The Challenges and Opportunities Throughout the Life Cycle of Landscape-Scale Collaborative

261 Pages·2017·1.99 MB·English

Clemson University
TigerPrints
All Dissertations Dissertations
12-2014
The Challenges and Opportunities Throughout the
Life Cycle of Landscape-Scale Collaborative
Conservation Organizations: Case Studies in the
Southern Appalachians and the Northern Rockies
Ecosystems
Jennifer Thomsen
Clemson University, [email protected]
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Recommended Citation
Thomsen, Jennifer, "The Challenges and Opportunities Throughout the Life Cycle of Landscape-Scale Collaborative Conservation
Organizations: Case Studies in the Southern Appalachians and the Northern Rockies Ecosystems" (2014).All Dissertations. 1449.
https://tigerprints.clemson.edu/all_dissertations/1449
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THE CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE LIFE CYCLE OF
LANDSCAPE-SCALE COLLABORATIVE CONSERVATION ORGANIZATIONS:
CASE STUDIES IN THE SOUTHERN APPALACHIANS AND
NORTHERN ROCKIES ECOSYSTEMS
________________________________________________________________________
A Dissertation
Presented to
The Graduate School of
Clemson University
________________________________________________________________________
In Partial Fulfillment
of the Requirements for the Degree
Doctor of Philosophy
Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Management
________________________________________________________________________
by
Jennifer Marie Thomsen
December 2014
________________________________________________________________________
Accepted by:
Dr. Robert Powell, Committee Chair
Dr. Elizabeth Baldwin
Dr. Robert Baldwin
Dr. Jeffrey Hallo
Dr. Marc Stern
ABSTRACT

Currently our natural environment is threatened by climate change, habitat
fragmentation, and other transboundary issues. To address these problems, it is thought
that conservation organizations and land management agencies should attempt to manage
at larger geographic scales and across political boundaries. The Crown Managers
Partnership (CMP) and the Southern Appalachian Man and the Biosphere Cooperative
(SAMAB) are two such organizations that work at an ecoregional scale to support
collaboration among agencies, aboriginal groups, conservationists, scientists, and other
stakeholders for the conservation and restoration of the Northern Rocky Mountain and
the Southern Appalachian regions in North America. Over the past decades, SAMAB and
CMP have contributed to their long-term goal of connectivity throughout the landscape
and have created inspiring visions for ecoregional conservation planning and
management by sharing and communicating sound scientific information and strategizing
and implementing conservation action among diverse partners from the local to
international scale. Although landscapes are considered the suitable scale for
conservation endeavors, developing a successful collaborative landscape-scale
organization that can accomplish meaningful and sustained activities appears difficult.
An in-depth analysis of SAMAB and CMP can help other landscape-scale organizations
begin to understand the influence of both internal and external processes and factors that
can impede or produce challenges to these types of organizations during different stages
over the life of an organization. The presentation will present the case study findings
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from nearly sixty interviews, secondary documents, and observations and specifically
provide guidance regarding how SAMAB and CMP are evolving over time and provide
strategies for maintaining the vitality of the organization and the roles they can play in
future transboundary management of their respective regions. In addition, the in-depth
analysis can provide broader lessons for other emerging landscape organizations or
mature organizations that are attempting to maintain relevance and thrive.

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DEDICATION

I dedicate my dissertation to my loving and open-minded parents, John and
Suzanne Thomsen, who have always supported me in every aspect of my life and
reminded me that nothing was impossible from the moment I entered this world.
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I am fortunate to have nothing short of the greatest and most inspiring friends and
family in the world, each making up a large part of who I am today and who I will be in
the future. In particular, I want to acknowledge three role models in my life. Aunt Mare
has inspired me to always follow my passion and to put things in perspective. Grandma
LoFrumento has always instilled the importance of education, lifelong learning, and
continuously challenging yourself. Grandma Thomsen has always shared my love for
international travel and taught me that you can discover the world at any age.
I want to acknowledge Bob Powell, my advisor, mentor, and friend throughout
the past four years. He has helped me grow and evolve as a student, person, and
professional in this field and has made my time as a doctoral student one of the most
enjoyable and greatest learning experiences in my life. I can only strive to be as
incredible a mentor as Bob to others and instill in them the importance of never losing
your passion and creating a sense of balance in your personal and professional lives.
Finally I want to thank Clemson University for providing extraordinary academic
and professional opportunities and being the best decision I ever made. Without attending
Clemson, I would never have met my original mentor and supporter, Bill Bowerman. I
would also have never had the opportunity of working with Gary Machlis of the National
Park Service, who continually inspires, guides, and motivates me as a professional in this
field.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
ABSTRACT .................................................................................................................. ii
DEDICATION ............................................................................................................. iv
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ...........................................................................................v
LIST OF TABLES ....................................................................................................... ix
LIST OF FIGURES ..................................................................................................... xi
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION ............................................................................1
Problem Statement .........................................................................................................1
Purpose Statement ..........................................................................................................8
Case Studies ...................................................................................................................9
Methods........................................................................................................................12
Structure of the Document ...........................................................................................17
CHAPTER TWO: THE INFLUENCE OF CHANGE ON THE
ORGANIZATIONAL LIFE CYCLE OF LSCCOS ........................................18
Abstract ........................................................................................................................18
Introduction ..................................................................................................................19
Case Studies .................................................................................................................29
Methods........................................................................................................................31
Results .........................................................................................................................36
Discussion ....................................................................................................................78
Conclusions ..................................................................................................................86
CHAPTER THREE: START UP AND GET MOVING! FACTORS
INFLUENCING SUCCESS DURING LSCCOS’ BIRTH AND
GROWTH STAGES ........................................................................................93
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Table of Contents (Continued)
Page
Abstract ........................................................................................................................93
Introduction ..................................................................................................................94
Case Studies ...............................................................................................................102
Methods......................................................................................................................105
Results. .......................................................................................................................107
Discussion ..................................................................................................................130
Conclusions ................................................................................................................143
CHAPTER FOUR: WE MADE IT THIS FAR, NOW WHAT? FACTORS
INFLUENCING SUSTAININED ACTION AND SUCCESS
DURING LSCCOS’ MATURITY STAGE...................................................147
Abstract ......................................................................................................................147
Introduction ................................................................................................................148
Case Studies ...............................................................................................................155
Methods......................................................................................................................157
Results .......................................................................................................................159
Discussion ..................................................................................................................179
Conclusions ................................................................................................................188
CHAPTER FIVE: WHY DO LSCCOS DECLINE? A CASE STUDY OF
THE SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN MAN AND THE
BIOSPHERE COOPERATIVE .....................................................................191
Abstract ......................................................................................................................191
Introduction ................................................................................................................192
Case Study .................................................................................................................199
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Table of Contents (Continued)
Page
Methods......................................................................................................................200
Results .......................................................................................................................201
Discussion ..................................................................................................................212
Conclusions ................................................................................................................220
CHAPTER SIX: SYNTHESIS AND CONCLUSIONS............................................223
Synthesis ....................................................................................................................224
Conclusions ................................................................................................................235
Implications................................................................................................................236
REFERENCES ..........................................................................................................238

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LIST OF TABLES

Table Page

1.1 Different characteristics contributing to variations in LSCCOs. .......................3
1.2 Summary of characteristics of different organizational life cycle
stages compiled from the organizational life cycle literature. ...........................6
1.3 Summary of similarities between SAMAB and CMP as
comparative case studies. .................................................................................12
1.4 Spatial distribution of SAMAB and CMP interviewees. .................................14
1.5 Examples of interviewees’ affiliations.............................................................14
1.6 Summary of Bailey (2007) guidelines for observations and field
notes. ................................................................................................................15
2.1 Different characteristics contributing to variations in LSCCOs. .....................22
2.2 Summary of similarities between SAMAB and CMP as
comparative case studies. .................................................................................31
2.3 Comparison of methods from previous studies that guided the
methodology of this research study. ................................................................32
2.4 Criteria for identifying changes and events from Miller & Friesen
(1980) and Glick et al. (1990) and the adapted framework for the
current study.....................................................................................................35
2.5 Types of changes in the birth stage, comparisons with other
organizations and between cases, and potential implications for
SAMAB and CMP. ..........................................................................................87
2.6 Types of changes in the growth stage, comparisons with other
organizations and between cases, and potential implications for
SAMAB and CMP. ..........................................................................................88

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