Conflict Management Strategies for Rangeland Resources

Numerous strategies have been developed to cope with conflicts. Collaborative processes are one group of conflict management strategies used. When successful these processes have several common features: they are voluntary, build trust, develop a shared vision, and use consensus. These techniques have often led to false expectations because the source of the conflict was ignored or adequately trained facilitators were not used. The source of the conflict (lack of information, different interests, or values) determines the likely success of how a conflict can be managed. Collaboration methods work well if the source of the conflict is lack of information or different interests. Those dealing with conflicting values are more difficult. (CAB Abstract)