**AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** QUAKING ASPEN IS AN ICONIC TREE SPECIES OF WESTERN NORTH AMERICA. IT IS ECOLOGICALLY DOMINANT AND A PRIORITY FOR MANAGEMENT BY NUMEROUS PARTIES (E.G. FEDERAL/STATE RESOURCE MANAGERS, TRIBES, PRIVATE LANDOWNERS). THERE IS A NEED TO DEVELOP MANAGEMENT APPROACHES THAT ARE CLIMATE-SMART, MATCHING USDA PRIORITIES. GIVEN THE LONG-LASTING IMPACTS OF MANAGEMENT DECISIONS MADE IN THIS NOVEL CONTEXT, MANAGEMENT OF THIS AND OTHER SPECIES NEEDS TO BE SUPPORTIVE OF DIVERSE PERSPECTIVES AND SHARED STEWARDSHIP, INVOLVING THE DEVELOPMENT OF PARTNERSHIPS AND TRUST BETWEEN MULTIPLE ORGANIZATIONS (E.G. TRIBES). MOVING TOWARDS CULTURALLY SUSTAINING MANAGEMENT PRACTICES IS ALSO A PRIORITY.WE WILL HOLD A 2-DAY, 3-NIGHT CONFERENCE ON THIS TOPIC IN COLORADO. THE CONFERENCE WILL INCLUDE PRE-MEETING REMOTE INTERACTIONS, NETWORKING, PRESENTATIONS, HALF-DAY FIELD VISITS TO ASPEN FORESTS, AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR DISCUSSION AND LEARNING (ESPECIALLY AROUND TRIBAL PARTNERSHIPS AND SHARED STEWARDSHIP). RECRUITMENT WILL FOCUS ON OBTAINING A DIVERSE SET OF PARTICIPANTS ACROSS ORGANIZATIONS, GENDERS, CAREER STAGES, NATIVE IDENTITY, AND OTHER FACTORS. TARGET ATTENDANCE WILL BE 60 PEOPLE. TRAVEL/REGISTRATION EXPENSES WILL BE COVERED TO MAXIMIZE ACCESS.PARTICIPANTS WILL EACH RECEIVE 20+ HOURS OF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND INTERACTIONS ON THE CONFERENCE THEMES. EXPECTED OUTCOMES INCLUDE: SHARING KNOWLEDGE AND PERSPECTIVES AROUND MULTIPLE THEMES (SUSTAINING RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN FORESTS AND PEOPLE, PROMOTING FOREST RESILIENCE IN AN AGE OF RAPID CLIMATE CHANGE); BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS AND TRUST; AND ENGAGING A DIVERSE SET OF PARTICIPANTS FOR CROSS-BOUNDARY CONVERSATIONS. ONE GOAL WILL BE TO PROVIDE GUIDANCE FOR AN IMPROVED MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK THAT IS BOTH CLIMATE SMART AND CULTURALLY SUSTAINING.