THE WESTERN RURAL DEVELOPMENT CENTER COLLABORATES WITH WESTERN LAND-GRANT UNIVERSITIES AND PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTOR PARTNERS TO PROMOTE EXCELLENCE IN RESEARCH, EDUCATION, AND EXTENSION FOR THE PROSPERITY OF WESTERN RURAL COMMUNITIES. THE WESTERN RURAL DEVELOPMENT CENTER WORKS TO BUILD CAPACITY THROUGHOUT THE REGION'S LAND-GRANT UNIVERSITIES AND COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SERVICE TO HELP RURAL COMMUNITIES PROSPER, THRIVE ECONOMICALLY, AND BECOME SELF-SUSTAINING.AT THE WESTERN RURAL DEVELOPMENT CENTER, WE LINK THE SCIENCE-BASED RESEARCH AND EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH CAPACITY OF THE REGION'S PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES WITH COMMUNITIES, LOCAL DECISION-MAKERS, ENTREPRENEURS, FAMILIES, FARMERS AND RANCHERS TO HELP ADDRESS A WIDE RANGE OF DEVELOPMENT ISSUES. IN ORDER TO MORE EFFECTIVELY ADDRESS THESE ISSUES AND THE EMERGING CONCERNS FACING THE RESIDENTS OF THE RURAL WEST, THE WESTERN RURAL DEVELOPMENT CENTER FOCUSES ITS EFFORTS ON THREE PRIORITY AREAS: 1) COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT; 2) CLIMATE EDUCATION;AND 3) LAND USE AND MANAGEMENT PLANNING.