By Andrew M. McGee, USCM Intern
July 14, 2003

The U.S. Conference of Mayors is pleased to announce "Joint Ventures: Partners in Stewardship," to be held November 17-20 in Los Angeles (CA). Co-hosted by seven federal agencies, "Joint Ventures" is the first of its kind to examine full partnership between government agencies and private organizations concerned land management and use of public space.

Sponsored by the National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Bureau of Reclamation, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and Bureau of Indian Affairs, "Joint Ventures" seeks to examine the shared responsibility and leadership required to fully make use of America's cultural and natural public spaces. Conference organizers hope the event, organized into a series of 90-minute sessions, will help identify community space needs, bring into contact previously unlinked advocates of public space, and forge partnerships between public and private land interests.

Session topics include adaptive management, recreation, shared governance models, creative funding approaches, green infrastructure, visitor services, tourism, corporate stewardship, and sustainable practices in developing and managing public spaces. On the value of "Joint Stewardship" to members of the U.S. Conference of Mayors, Park Service spokesman Jim Gasser remarks, "The stewardship of public lands, natural resources, and historic places has never been more important, or more challenging. To meet these challenges we need innovative partnerships that bring together the talents and resources of government, the business community, tribes and indigenous communities, nongovernmental organizations, and the educational and scientific communities."

More information can be found at the event's official website, www.partnerships2003.org. Corporate partners and other organizations wishing to sponsor scholarships for conference attendees should contact Dan Wenk at dan_wenk@nps.gov.