ESA has recognized inclusion as an ecological imperative, but to achieve this vision, contributions from multiple knowledges and perspectives are needed. Conventional ecological research alone, working apart from social sciences and manager communities is unlikely to make a meaningful impact in workingland ecosystems like rangelands, where wildlife habitat and ecosystem function are interdependent with human management and livelihoods. Researcher-manager partnerships on rangelands are gaining recognition as a means to advance ecological knowledge, increase stakeholder engagement in ecology and facilitate science-based management that enhances conservation outcomes synergistic with agricultural production and human well-being. However, inclusive and collaborative research faces a number of theoretical, logistical, and social challenges that have received less attention. Trust- and relationship-building are required to foster multi-directional learning and knowledge co-production, and depend upon long-term investment from both manager and researcher communities. The aim of this session is to provide long-time and aspiring collaborative ecologists with the theoretical and practical considerations for manager and community engagement at multiple levels. This session brings together a diverse group of researchers, rangeland managers and conservation practitioners. We will lead the session with a discussion of knowledge integration and transformational ecology, and will highlight theoretical and practical developments in in the US and East Africa. Subsequent speakers will present as researcher-stakeholder teams to provide a more complete picture of the specific challenges and opportunities provided by public and stakeholder engagement on workinglands. These teams will discuss risks and rewards involved in community-driven ecology, methods of engagement to support conservation/production synergies, and best practices for conducting useable science with ranchers, conservation organizations and public land management agencies. The session will then cover an in-depth discussion of engaging tribal communities via two presentations, one outlining cultural, logistical and practical lessons to enhance relationships and collaborations between government agencies and tribal communities and colleges, and the second discussing the complexities of respecting native science. We will close with a discussion ofhow by respecting and acting upon multiple forms of knowledge, partnerships can not only circumvent barriers to change but can also sustain efforts long enough to see tangible outcomes for both ecosystems and society.