Mountain Plovers and the Politics of Research on Private Lands

The critical role of private lands in the conservation of threatened and endangered species has been well documented. Although researchers and policymakers recognize the need to include private lands in conservation planning, they often falter over the question of how to do so. The current literature contains only a few research studies on species of conservation concern on private lands. We describe our experiences with the partnership-based approach we used with private landowners to conduct research on the mountain plover (Charadrius montanus), a species that was proposed for listing under the US Endangered Species Act. In our approach, research is an objective tool that is accessible to all partners involved, and researchers do not take a lead role in the resolution of sociopolitical issues. We provide guidelines for conducting studies on private land, with the goal of improving researchers' interactions with private landowners.