Collaborative Planning for Binational Cultural Resource Management

Abstract

The purpose of this report is to examine the process through which the National Park Service (NPS), the Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia (INAH), and other key partners, are developing a collaborative plan aimed at enhancing the management of cultural resources within Spanish colonial mission complexes. In particular, it provides insight into procedural differences between the creation of a multi-agency strategic plan and the methods traditionally prescribed by the National Park Service for individual park units. The report identifies critical factors in determining the success of multi-agency partnerships and assesses the Missions Initiative in light of these factors. Key findings highlight the difficulty in coordinating a project of this scope among international agencies with complex institutional cultures and structures. The report recommends that certain steps be taken to clarify institutional roles and decision making procedures in order to ensure the long-term effectiveness of the proposed collaboration between resource administrators in the United States and Mexico.