The mission of the Rocky Mountains Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit is to improve and disseminate the knowledge base for managing natural and cultural resources in the rapidly changing social, cultural, and environmental landscape of the Rocky Mountain Region, and to extend its expertise to national issues where appropriate.
With rapidly growing and urbanizing populations, the Rocky Mountain Region presents opportunities for innovative and creative resource management. The RM-CESU meets these opportunities by bringing together the region’s best scientific talent and scholarship to help manage resource problems across social, cultural, economic, political, and environmental arenas. The RM-CESU works to aid in the development and transmission of knowledge to land managers, political and 
industry leaders, and others who need such information. The RM-CESU conducts research, education, and technical assistance on both agency specific issues and on issues concerning areas of mixed ownership. In fact, one of its strengths is the ability to identify and manage activities that require partnerships that involve more than two of its partners.
