Negotiation Skills for Natural Resource Professionals: Building a Foundation

Target Audience: 

Natural resource and conservation professionals engaged in natural resource negotiations, including landscape conservation cooperatives staff, biologists, and project leaders.  

Summary and Objectives:  

This training course provides participants with the basic principles, skills, and techniques used in natural resource negotiation. This setting supports in-depth analysis of collaborative decision making processes with a mix of lectures, hands-on training, and discussions. During the final class exercise, students develop group presentations based on real-life negotiation examples and receive feedback from the instructors and classmates. Course materials include a training handbook and online readings. No previous negotiation experience is required, although many participants have had some exposure to natural resource negotiations. This class is provided by the U.S. Geological Survey - Fort Collins Science Center, and the National Conservation Training Center.  

Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:  

• Become well-versed in different types of negotiations, negotiation styles, and strategies. 
• Learn how to analyze and assess knowledge and interests of other parties. 
• Understand how to best communicate interests and objectives.