2025 Gathering of CBES Grantees

Restoring our natural resources takes all of us, working together.

2025 Gathering of CBES Grantees

Restoration and preservation of our environment requires collaboration between community, science and academia, and government. More than 70 CBES grantees and their partners spent a day learning, connecting, and inspiring action around issues they identified through a pre-gathering survey. The following highlight key themes that emerged.

10 Takeaways

Culture Is Science, Science Is Culture

Effective environmental programs combine Indigenous knowledge with Western science as equal partners.

Learning by Doing

Environmental education and engagement become transformative when it moves beyond information transfer to experiences that shift people's relationship to place.

Working Within the System

Instead of fighting regulatory and policy systems from the outside, successful organizations work from within.

Working Together Instead of Competing

In response to funding uncertainties, organizations are sharing costs, resources, and knowledge rather than competing for limited funds.

Strong Cross-Sector Relationships

Strong partnerships require spending time together, working side by side on the land, and maintaining connections over years, not just for single projects.

Creating Income While Caring for the Land

Organizations are developing businesses and earned income that align with their environmental mission to reduce dependence on grants.

Investing in Young People

Long-term environmental care requires bringing young people into the work through school partnerships, mentorship, and involving them in planning and decision making.

Fighting Invasive Species

Organizations face threats from invasive plants and animals that require new technology and traditional methods working together.

Trust Building

Building trust with communities takes time and cannot be rushed.

Start Small, Stay Flexible

Organizations see better results by focusing on smaller, manageable areas and adjusting strategies based on what actually works.

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