Regional Open-space Conservation Strategies: A Case Study of the Intertwine Alliance's Regional Conservation Strategy

Abstract

Ecological processes do not adhere to political boundaries. As planners grapple to accommodate natural processes with human development, these borders must be reevaluated and strategies of coordination across them must be developed. Transcending these boundaries is necessary to achieve environmental goals. This transformation is currently occurring in metropolitan areas across the country, as regional planning institutions evaluate mechanisms and strategies for collaboration, conservation, and protection. The primary purpose of this study is to examine the methods used by the Intertwine Alliance, a collaborative partnership of public, private, and nonprofit actors in the greater Portland, Oregon region, to develop a regional open-space conservation strategy. By comparing the strategies, difficulties, and opportunities discussed in the existing literature with lessons learned from the Intertwine Alliance case study, this study attempts to identify critical factors essential to the development of open-space planning efforts at a regional scale and details possible solutions to address the greatest challenges presented by this type of work.