Guided by the principles of ecosystem-based management, the National Riparian Service Team works to implement 'The Interagency Strategy for Accelerating Cooperative Riparian Restoration and Management'. This poster outlines (1) the team's strategy, (2) the tools employed to foster cooperative watershed management, (3) current attempts to evaluate the success of this initiative and, finally, (4) the link between collaborative resource management and increased citizen involvement in government.

Ecosystem-based management is currently seen as the guiding philosophy of land management agencies within the United States. This philosophy is premised on both a concern for the health of ecosystems, and the need to integrate the knowledge and values of a broad array of organizations and individuals into natural resource decision making. Collaborative, community-based conservation efforts are recognized as one approach that models the stewardship requirements of ecosystem management, and promotes the rebuilding of society through a resurgence in citizen involvement in government. However, insufficient community capacity and bureaucratic barriers are often cited as impediments to collective community action efforts. The National Riparian Service Team is an interagency team created in 1996. The team is committed to accelerating the long-term collaborative stewardship of riparian areas by those people who are most affected by its management. In an effort to achieve their mission, Healthy Streams Through Bringing People Together, the NRST provides tools to empower individuals, build community capacity, and reduce bureaucratic red tape by promoting a coordinated approach to riparian restoration and management.