John S. McCain III
National Center for Environmental Conflict Resolution
In 1998, Congress amended the Udall Foundation’s enabling legislation to establish the U.S. Institute for Environmental Conflict Resolution,
now called the John S. McCain III National Center for Environmental Conflict Resolution (National Center or NCECR), as part of the Udall
Foundation to provide impartial collaboration, consensus-building, and conflict resolution services.
Our work enhances multiparty problem solving and decision-making by helping parties work together, build a shared understanding
of issues, address concerns, and develop strong outcomes. As part of this work, we provide a training program to develop
skills and build workforce capacity in collaboration, communication, problem solving, and conflict resolution. We focus on a wide range
of environmental, natural resources, and public lands issues involving the Federal Government.
What We Do
The National Center guides groups through collaborative processes to achieve science-based decision-making,
collaborative policy, and other lasting outcomes. Our work ranges from assessments, to creating collaborative
environments, and facilitating solutions.
We also provide training to develop skills and build workforce capacity in collaboration, communication, problem solving, and conflict resolution .
Other specific services offered by the National Center include consultations, assessments,
process design, convening, mediation, facilitation, stakeholder engagement, Tribal consultation,
and other related collaboration and conflict resolution activities. The National Center
specializes in providing assistance with the following:
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Nationally and regionally important environmental challenges;
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Multiparty high-conflict cases where an impartial Federal convener is needed to broker participation in a
collaborative process or conflict resolution effort;
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Collaborative efforts involving Tribes and Native people, including government-to-government consultation
between Tribes and Federal agencies;
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Interagency and interdepartmental collaborations;
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Issues involving multiple levels of government (Federal, State, Local, Tribal) and the public;
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Issues that require substantive expertise (e.g., NEPA, transportation infrastructure projects, endangered species,
cultural resources);
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Training and capacity-building in environmental collaboration and conflict resolution for individuals and groups; and
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Projects that require funding from multiple agencies and/or private organizations.
| Benefits of Environmental Conflict Resolution |
| Efficiency |
Cost savings, timely process, minimizes litigation |
| Outcomes |
Better, more durable solutions |
| Governance |
Increase capacity to serve citizens |
To learn more about how the National Center supports Federal agencies through environmental collaboration and conflict resolution, please watch the linked webinar.