Wilderness Technical Core Competencies Information Training Matrix

for Wilderness Specialists

Wilderness Field Skills – (Wilderness Specialists) KSAs needed to accomplish specific field tasks in a variety of wilderness settings.
Expert Level / Knowledge and understanding of: / Information / Training
On-line / Classroom
  • the wilderness resource

  • "Leave No Trace" principles and ethics

  • wilderness emergency procedures, including agency fire management policy and its implementation, minimum impact strategies and tactics (MIST)

  • wilderness rules, regulations and policies specific to field operations

  • the minimum requirement principle and authority for approving prohibited uses
/
  • Regional Wilderness Stewardship
  • National Wilderness Stewardship
(Link both to
  • skills necessary to ensure staff safety and competency in wilderness settings

Ability to:
  • work within fire program organizations to facilitate appropriate agency response to fire in wilderness, to obtain necessary skills and resources, and to participate in oversight of fire management operations in wilderness

  • advise agency administrators regarding emergency operations in wilderness and to participate in oversight of such operations

  • provide advice and oversight to coordinate skills, knowledge, and resources necessary for field operations in wilderness

Wilderness Field Skills – (Wilderness Specialists) KSAs needed to accomplish specific field tasks in a variety of wilderness settings.
Expert Level / Skilled in: / Information / Training
On-line / Classroom
  • determining the minimum requirement

  • working across program areas related to field operations such as with engineering programs; procurement, contract, and agreements specialists; natural resource programs; etc.

  • addressing regulatory requirements that affect field projects and in coordinating with regulatory agencies to facilitate field project work

Wilderness Planning (Wilderness Specialists) - KSAs needed to address wilderness stewardship needs in programmatic and project level planning processes.
Expert Level / Knowledge and understanding of: / Information / Training
On-line / Classroom
  • same as Full Performance

Ability to:
  • provide technical assistance for National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and other resource management planning activities

  • accomplish collaborative planning at the program level and identify and develop regional planning strategies and initiatives.

  • identify and assist with resolving regional scaleissues

  • prioritize and communicate wilderness research and technology development needs

  • transfer knowledge from research results

  • review or respond to appeals and lawsuits on various wilderness issues

  • interpret effects to wilderness from changes in planning policies

  • provide advice in the evaluation and study process requirements for agency wilderness designation recommendations to Congress

  • complete analysis, devise new procedures, and provide advice on complex problems using technical information or resource data that is often inconclusive orunclear

Skilled in:
  • same as Full Performance

Natural & Cultural Resources Management & Monitoring (Wilderness Specialists) – KSAs needed to manage and monitor natural and cultural resources in wilderness.
Expert Level / Knowledge and Understanding of: / Information / Training
On-line / Classroom
  • same as Full Performance Level

  • related sciences and professional disciplines such as ecology, botany, fire management, air quality protection, wildlife and fisheries management, soil science, range management, and cultural resources

  • relevant research literature
/
  • Aldo Leopold Wilderness Research Institute publication search (
  • Agency specific libraries

Ability to:
  • same as Full Performance Level

  • apply wilderness management principles to decision making processes and integrate them with management principles of other resource programs
/
  • Four Cornerstones of Wilderness Stewardship (
/
  • Minimum Requirements Analysis (
/
  • National Wilderness Stewardship (

  • coordinate inventory and monitoring programs at the regional or larger scales if appropriate within the agency
/
  • Minimum Requirements Analysis (
/
  • National Wilderness Stewardship (

  • complete analysis, devise new procedures, and provide advice on complex problems using technical information or resource data that is often inconclusive orunclear
/
  • Minimum Requirements Analysis (

Natural & Cultural Resources Management & Monitoring (Wilderness Specialists) – KSAs needed to manage and monitor natural and cultural resources in wilderness.
Expert Level / Skilled in: / Information / Training
On-line / Classroom
  • applying understanding of law, regulation, and policy to recommend or make decisions related to natural and cultural resource management
/
  • Minimum Requirements Analysis (
/
  • National Wilderness Stewardship (

  • compiling, analyzing and using natural and cultural resourcedata when making short and long term program recommendations

  • collaboration and coordination with related natural and cultural resource programs for wilderness administration

Managing Special Provisions (Wilderness Specialists) - KSA needed to manage the special provisions identified in 1964 Wilderness Act and in subsequent enabling legislation.
Expert Level / Knowledge and understanding of: / Information / Training
On-line / Classroom
  • same as Full Performance Level
/
  • On the job training
  • Wilderness Awareness Toolbox (
  • Grazing Toolbox (
  • Minerals Toolbox (
  • Inholding Access Toolbox (
  • Miscellaneous Special Provisions Toolbox (
  • Wilderness Stewardship Reference System (

  • programs and issues to recognize potential precedent-setting situations

  • court decisions and their implication for interpretation of existing law, regulation, and

  • legal implications of management decisions

Ability to:
  • same as Full Performance Level

  • provide solutions where there are conflicting or unclear legislation and regulatory processes

Skilled in:
  • applying wilderness management regulations, policies, and principles and those of related programs to identify strategies and recommend or make decisions regarding special provisions
/
  • National Wilderness Stewardship (

Visitor Use Management& Monitoring (Wilderness Specialists) - KSAs needed to manage and monitor visitor use in wilderness.
Expert Level / Knowledge and understanding of: / Information / Training
On-line / Classroom
  • same as Full Performance

  • relevant research literature

Ability to:
  • identify strategies for determining the characteristics, expectations and demands of wilderness visitors, and how their expectations will affect the wilderness resource
/
  • Wilderness Stewardship Framework (
  • Wilderness Visitor Use Management: Fundamentals (
  • Wilderness Visitor Use Management: Strategies (
  • Wilderness Visitor Use Management: Monitoring Impacts and Uses (
/
  • Regional Wilderness Stewardship
  • National Wilderness Stewardship
(link to for both)
  • apply understanding of law, regulation, and policy to recommend or make decisions related to visitor use management
/
  • Regional Wilderness Stewardship
  • National Wilderness Stewardship
(link to for both)
  • work with NGOs and address political issues regionally and nationally
/
  • Regional Wilderness Stewardship
  • National Wilderness Stewardship
(link to for both)
  • complete analysis, devise new procedures, and provide advice on complex problems using technical information or resource data that is often inconclusive orunclear

Skilled in: / Information / Training
On-line / Classroom
  • developing understanding and support for agency objectives and actions

  • responding to complaints or protests

  • exchanging information on current technical developments

  • maintaining relationships with special interest groups or organizations

  • building consensus through compromise or by development of suitable alternatives

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December 2007