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On September 7, 2022, the California Landscape Stewardship Network hosted the 5th virtual Cutting Green Tape Exchange. During two hours, we heard insights, updates and more on the Cutting Green Initiative from:

• Welcome from lead facilitator Shawn Johnson (University of Montana)
• Reflections on Cutting Green Tape from Wade Crowfoot (California's Secretary for Natural Resources)
• Presenting the Hidden Hero Awards to Madeline Cavalieri (California Coastal Commission) and Jake Shannon (North Coast Regional Water Board)
• SERP Program highlights and updates from Brad Henderson (California Department of Fish and Wildlife)
• Practitioners' panel on SERP Program project implementation including Kristan Culbert (American Rivers), Kellyx Nelson (California Landscape Stewardship Network), and Jim Robins (San Mateo RCD)
• News Announcement on the Programmatic USFWS Biological Opinion from Katie Haldeman (Sustainable Conservation) and Lee Ann Carranza (US Fish & Wildlife Service)
• Discussing the Cutting Green Tape Case Study with Amy Mickel (California State University at Sacramento) and Sharon Farrell (California Landscape Stewardship Network)
• Closing Reflections from Jennifer Norris (Deputy Secretary for Biodiversity and Habitat) The Exchange was facilitated by Shawn Johnson, CLSN Steering Committee member and Director at the University of Montana's Center for Natural Resources & Environmental Policy.

The second Cutting Green Tape Exchange took place on September 29, 2021. During the two-hour session facilitated by Shawn Johnson, we examined progress we’ve collectively made towards the recommendations in the Regulatory Efficiencies report, engaged with leadership on topics important to the restoration community, and highlighted feedback from practitioners on how to continue increasing the pace and scale of ecological restoration in California. It featured welcoming remarks and updates on the interagency-led Cutting Green Tape Initiative from California's Secretary for Natural Resources Wade Crowfoot, Deputy Secretary for Habitat & Biodiversity Jen Norris, and more, including:

• Sharon Farrell (Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy & CLSN Steering Committee)
• Chad Dibble (CA Department of Fish & Wildlife) Phil Crader (State Water Resources Board)
• Madeline Cavalieri (CA Coastal Commission) Matt Clifford (Trout Unlimited)
• Shelana deSilva (SdS Consulting & CLSN Steering Committee)
• Darcie Goodman Collins (League to Save Lake Tahoe)
• Jessica Morse (Deputy Secretary for Forest Resources Management)
• Patrick Wright (Governor's Wildfire & Forest Resilience Task Force)
• Kellyx Nelson (CLSN Steering Committee)
• Kristopher Tjernell (Department of Water Resources)

On April 6, 2021, the California Landscape Stewardship Network hosted a virtual event on Cutting Green Tape that brought together colleagues from California Natural Resources Agency and restoration practitioners from across the state to share updates and engage around future efforts for the initiative.

Speakers and panelists included:

• Wade Crowfoot, California's Secretary for Natural Resources
• Jen Norris, Deputy Secretary for Habitat and Biodiversity
• Chad Dibble, Deputy Director of Ecosystem Conservation Division, CDFW
• Paul Hann, Chief of Watersheds and Wetlands, State Water Resources Control Board
• Erika Lovejoy, Program Director for Accelerating Restoration at Sustainable Conservation
• Kellyx Nelson, Executive Director of San Mateo RCD and CLSN Steering Committee

The conversation was moderated by Shawn Johnson.

The California State Coastal Conservancy hosted a webinar on 2/3/21 with Kellyx Nelson and Jim Robins about the Cutting Green Tape initiative and why it is needed to protect our natural resources. Ms. Nelson and Mr. Robins are two of the lead authors of the Cutting Green Tape: Regulatory Efficiencies for a Resilient Environment report (November 2020) and discuss the need for changes in our regulatory processes and present the recommendations in the report. With Trish Chapman, Central Coast Regional Manager, State Coastal Conservancy.

As we continue to face complex and difficult-to-solve problems such as climate change, social injustice, and a global pandemic, the need for collaboration is more pressing than ever. Multi-stakeholder partnerships (MSPs) are touted as promising mechanisms to tackle these challenges; however, despite their promise, not all partnerships are successful in their collaborative efforts. The presence or absence of individuals with the right mindset to participate in a collaborative leadership process is one common explanation for this.

The purpose of the research presented here is to better understand collaboration in the context of MSPs. Answering the question “Which behaviors foster collaboration and which ones discourage collaboration?” can help us address the question of “How do you effectively participate in the process of collaborative leadership?” In this research, qualitative data were collected and analyzed to reveal behaviors that influence successful collaboration.

The executive summary of CLSN 2021 - 2023 Strategic Roadmap, including its four main focal areas and related objectives.

During the fall of 2020, the California Landscape Stewardship Network (CA Network) Steering Committee undertook a process to review Network successes, to assess current needs and opportunities, and to chart a course forward. The Steering Committee relied on several sources for candid feedback and new ideas, including:

• targeted interviews with Steering Committee members and key CA Network partners/advisers,
• a Network-wide participants survey, and
• in-depth discussions among the Steering Committee on key issues.

What we heard was agreement that there are specific areas where the CA Network has been successful as well as opportunities for evolution or growth. One of the key findings was that the CA Network does not act like a formal organization, but rather serves as a platform for people to work together in new ways. Because it works on emergent needs and opportunities, and remains highly adaptive and constantly in process, it needs a “strategic roadmap” rather than a traditional strategic plan. This document provides that roadmap though guidance on how to maintain Network strengths and ways to sustain its ongoing and successful journey. We consider this strategic roadmap to be a living document, and welcome questions, feedback, and further insights from our community of practice and collaborators.

In an effort to create a shared language and understanding for landscape stewardship practitioners, terms related to systems, such as systems thinking and systems change, are defined in this guide. Systems in three classifications—biosphere, social, and technosphere—are highlighted. These three systems all share the characteristics of interconnectedness, interdependency, and dynamism

Systems thinking is a lens through which we can understand, diagnose, and solve complex issues, in addition to a lens for decision-making and future planning. Both a process and an outcome, systems change is the action-oriented side of systems thinking, intended to produce long-lasting change.

This guide concludes with a checklist that can be used when approaching problems through a systems-thinking and systems-change perspective. When applying this perspective, the practice of collaborative leadership is highlighted as the most effective approach to tackling today’s complex problems.

This paper is a celebration of the many efforts the state has already undertaken to advance collaborative landscape stewardship. Innovative and forward-looking state efforts have inspired the California Landscape Stewardship Network (CA Network) to look ahead in partnership with the state, and explore ways we can work together to advance collaborative landscape scale approaches even further.

On July 14, 2020 the California Landscape Stewardship Network hosted a virtual meet-and-greet lunch with Dr. Jennifer Norris, California’s new Deputy Secretary for Biodiversity and Habitat at the CA Natural Resources Agency. Th conversation was moderated by CEO of League to Save Lake Tahoe and CA Network Steering Committee member, Darcie Goodman Collins.

Timeline of the recording:

• Welcome and introductions
• Jen Norris interview (4:20)
• Questions from the audience (22:10)
• Wrap-up and conclusion (39:50)