Forestry 374
Wilderness Area Management
Fall 2010
Class location: Forestry 103
Class meeting time: Tuesday, Thursday 9:00 am; labs TBA
Instructor: Dr. Steven R. Martin
Office: NR 200B
Office Hours: Monday through Friday 1 to 2 pm and by appointment
Telephone: 826-5637
e-mail:
Course Description
Since 1964, the United States Congress has designated over 100 million acres of federal land as “Wilderness” -- retaining its primeval character and influence, protected and managed so as to preserve its natural conditions. Why was this “wilderness idea” so important that Congress created and then greatly expanded the National Wilderness Preservation System? What are the purposes and benefits of Wilderness? Who manages these lands, and how are they managed? Who uses these lands? Why and how do they use them? What is allowed and prohibited in Wilderness? These are a few of the topics to be discussed and debated in Forestry 374.
Course Goals
The goals of this course are 1) for you to develop your own intellectual, philosophical, scientific, sociocultural, psychological framework about wilderness and wilderness management from which you can make decisions regarding wilderness and wilderness management as either a manager, advocate, or user; and 2) for you to become knowledgeable about the principles and techniques of managing human influences on, and use of, wilderness.
Course Objectives
To learn and understand:
1. the historical, cultural, and philosophical values of wilderness in America, and the direct & indirect benefits that come from preserving and/or visiting wilderness;
2. the legal and policy guidelines for wilderness protection and management, and the wilderness classification process;
3. the current status of the National Wilderness Preservation System;
4. principles of managing and restoring ecosystem resources and processes in wilderness areas:
5. the nature of the wilderness experience and how to manage for it;
6. principles and tools for managing recreational use of, and minimizing recreation impacts in wilderness;
7. current issues in wilderness management.
Course Outline
I. Introduction
A. Public lands and land management agencies in the U.S.
B. The National Wilderness Preservation System
C. What is wilderness?
D. History and philosophy of wilderness; benefits of wilderness
II. Legislation
A. Legislative history of wilderness
B. The Wilderness Act
III. Wilderness Ecosystems and Resources
A. Characterizing wilderness ecosystems and human impacts to them
B. Fire management in wilderness
C. Managing fish and wildlife in wilderness
D. Ecological restoration in wilderness
IV. Wilderness Management Decision-making
A. Tension between wildness and naturalness
B. Principles of wilderness management
C. Minimum requirement decision making guide
V. Managing Recreational Use of Wilderness
1. Recreational “carrying capacity”
2. Limits of Acceptable Change (LAC)
3. Management examples from the Bob Marshall Wilderness
4. Recreation impacts
5. Leave No Trace principles
6. Visitor management strategies for recreation impacts
7. Management examples from Glacier and Yosemite national parks
8. Managing high-use destinations in wilderness
9. The Forest Service’s wilderness recreation strategy
Course Requirements and Expectations
Forestry 374 is a three-unit class consisting of two 1-hour lecture periods each week, and one unit of lab. The one unit of lab is fulfilled participating in two overnight trips into wilderness areas during the fall semester (trips taken previously cannot be counted) and providing a written report to the instructor on your findings and observations regarding use and management of those areas. If you are not sure whether a particular area is a wilderness, and therefore are unsure if the trip will count, please check with the instructor. Your two trips may not be to the same wilderness area. The instructor will himself participate in two such trips, and it is required (if at all possible) that each student take one of his/her trips with the instructor.
This field experience is considered an important and mandatory part of the class. If you are an inexperienced backcountry traveler and are not confident of your backcountry skills, you may take a backpacking class from Center Activities; you may then count that class as one of your two required trips as long as you participate in an overnight backcountry trip as part of that class. If you do not own and cannot borrow the necessary equipment for backcountry trips, rental equipment is available through Center Activities. It is your responsibility to schedule and complete your backcountry trips; transportation for the second of your trips (your independent trip without the instructor) is not provided by the University, nor is any liability assumed by the instructor or the University for any trips.
Students are expected to have read the assigned readings and be prepared to discuss them and ask questions during classroom meetings.
Grading
The grade for the course will be determined by:
readings quizzes (5 x 10 points each)50(lowest of 6 quiz scores dropped)
midterm exam50
final exam50
field trip reports (2 x 20 points each)40
Total points190
The final exam is scheduled for Thursday, December 16 at 8:00 am. Do not make travel plans that preclude you from taking the final exam at this time.
Quizzes and exams will consist of short answer and essay questions taken from readings, lectures, and videos. You will need to bring a “blue book” for the exams (not the quizzes). You are expected to take quizzes and exams during the regular class period. If you have a serious and compelling reason why you cannot take a quiz or exam at the regularly scheduled time, you must see me at least 48 hours in advance to schedule an alternate time.
Letter grades will be assigned based on which of two curves yields the higher grade for each individual student: a standard curve of 90%=A-, 80%=B-, 70%=C-, 60%=D, and <60% = F; or a curve determined by the mean and standard deviation of the end-of-the-semester point totals, with anyone scoring above the class average receiving a grade of C+ or higher, and anyone scoring on or below the class average receiving a grade of C or lower.
Field trip reports must follow the format prescribed on the last page, and must be typed. Field trip reports must be turned in within two (2) weeks of having taken the trip. You will be penalized 10 percent
(2 points) for each week that the report is late.
No extra credit opportunities are available.
Attendance and Class Participation
I do not take roll; attendance is up to you. However, if you miss class, it is up to you to get notes from another student (not from me), as you are responsible for any missed material. If you miss a class you may also miss announcements of upcoming quizzes or schedule changes.
You are expected to have read the assigned readings before coming to class, and should be prepared to discuss them. While class participation does not carry specific points for grading, it may be used as a determining factor if you are on the borderline between two letter grades.
Add/Drop policy
Students are responsible for knowing the University policy, procedures, and schedule for dropping or adding classes. See www.humboldt.edu/~reg/regulations/schedadjust.html
Students with Disabilities
Persons who wish to request disability-related accommodations should contact the Student Disability Resource Center in House 71, 826-4678 (voice) or 826-5392 (TDD). Some accommodations may take up to several weeks to arrange. See www.humboldt.edu/~sdrc/
This course will integrate lecture, discussion, and outdoor field activities. It will require active learning on your part. If you have any type of disability that may hamper your full participation in course activities, it is your responsibility to inform me of your need for accommodations as soon as possible. I expect to hear from you within the first two weeks of the semester so that appropriate accommodations can be arranged. Complete information on the services available at HSU can be found at the Student Disability Resource Center (SDRC) in House 71, 826-4678 (voice) or 826-5392 (TDD) or on their website http://www.humboldt.edu/disability/. Some accommodations may take up to several weeks to arrange. If you qualify for extra time on exams or need other accommodations, it is your responsibility to obtain and provide me with the Exam Accommodation Request form from the SDRC. The form must be presented to me in a timely manner so appropriate arrangements can be made in advance for all exams. I strongly recommend submitting the form at the beginning of the semester or at least one week before the first exam that you wish to use accommodations. It is also strongly recommended that you communicate eligible accommodations and scheduling arrangements with me one week prior to exams. This will ensure your test accommodation arrangements are completed in a timely manner.
Academic Honesty
Students are responsible for knowing policy regarding academic honesty: http://studentaffairs.humboldt.edu/judicial/academic_honesty.php or www.humboldt.edu/~humboldt/catalogpdfs/catalog2007-08.pdf
I will enforce this policy and expect you to abide by it.
Attendance and disruptive behavior
Students are responsible for knowing policy regarding attendance and disruptive behavior: http://studentaffairs.humboldt.edu/judicial/attendance_behavior.php
Emergency evacuation
Please review the evacuation plan for the classroom (posted on the orange signs) , and review http://studentaffairs.humboldt.edu/emergencyops/campus_emergency_preparedness.php for information on campus Emergency Procedures. During an emergency, information can be found campus conditions at 826-INFO or www.humboldt.edu/emergency
Texts
Wilderness Management: Stewardship and Protection of Resources and Values. by John Hendee and
Chad Dawson. Fulcrum Publishing. 3rd Edition. 2002.
Wilderness and the American Mind. by Roderick Nash. Yale University Press. 4th Edition. 2001.
Reading assignments
Week 1 (Aug. 23-27)
Chapter 1, Wilderness Management text
Wilderness and the American Mind: chapters 1 and 2
Week 2 (Aug. 30-Sept. 3)
Chapter 2, Wilderness Management text
Wilderness and the American Mind: chapters 4 and 6
Week 3 (Sept. 6-10)
Chapter 6, Wilderness Management text
Wilderness and the American Mind: chapters 7 and 9
Week 4 (Sept. 13-17)
Chapter 4, Wilderness Management text
Chapter 5 Part II (pages 143-155) Wilderness Management text
Week 5 (Sept. 20-24)
Chapter 10, Wilderness Management text
Wilderness and the American Mind: chapter 12
Week 6 (Sept. 27-Oct. 1)
Chapter 11, Wilderness Management text
Wilderness and the American Mind: chapter 13
Week 7 (Oct. 4-8)
Chapter 12, Wilderness Management text
Wilderness and the American Mind: chapter 11
Week 8 (Oct. 11-15)
Chapter 3, Wilderness Management text
Week 9 (Oct. 18-22)
Chapter 14, Wilderness Management text
Wilderness and the American Mind: chapter 15
Week 10 (Oct. 25-29)
Chapter 7, Wilderness Management text
Week 11 (Nov. 1-5)
Chapter 9, Wilderness Management text
Week 12 (Nov. 8-12)
Chapter 15, Wilderness Management text
Week 13 (Nov. 15-19)
Chapter 13, Wilderness Management text
Week 14 (Nov. 29-Dec. 3)
Chapter 16, Wilderness Management text
Week 15 (Dec. 6-10)
Chapter 17, Wilderness Management text
Weekly lecture schedule (subject to change)
Week 1August 23–27 / Tuesday / Personal wilderness values test;
What is wilderness?
Thursday / Test results;
Wilderness in the public lands system
Week 2
Aug. 30-Sept. 3 / Tuesday / Wilderness Jeopardy / Wilderness and the American Mind
Chapters 4 and 6
Thursday / Video — Wild by Law
Week 3
Sept. 6-10 / Tuesday / Leave No Trace
Thursday / Wilderness Jeopardy / Wilderness and the American Mind
Chapters 7 and 9
Week 4
Sept. 13–17 / Tuesday / The Wilderness Act / readings quiz Chapter 4
Thursday / The Wilderness Act
Week 5
Sept. 20–24 / Tuesday / wilderness ecosystems / readings quiz Chapter 10
Thursday / finish ecosystems;
begin wilderness fire management
Week 6
Sept. 27–Oct. 1 / Tuesday / finish wilderness fire management
Thursday / managing fish and wildlife in wilderness
Week 7
October 4–8 / Tuesday / ecological restoration
in wilderness;
Bandelier case study / readings quiz Chapter 12
Thursday / finish restoration;
review for exam
Week 8
October 11–15 / Tuesday / EXAM
Thursday / MRDG powerpoint
Week 9
October 18–22 / Tuesday / MRDG powerpoint
Thursday / review exam / readings quiz
Chapter 14
Week 10
October 25–29 / Tuesday / begin
management
scenarios
Thursday / continue
management
scenarios
Week 11
Nov. 1-5 / Tuesday / finish
management
scenarios
Thursday / carrying capacity and Limits of
Acceptable Change
Week 12
November 8–12 / Tuesday / Bob Marshall W.
slide lecture
Thursday / recreation impacts / readings quiz
Chapter 15
Week 13
November 15–19 / Tuesday / strategies for managing recreation impacts
Thursday / Glacier and Yosemite national parks
slide lecture
Thanksgiving Break
Week 14Nov. 29-Dec. 3 / Tuesday / managing high use destinations in wilderness
Thursday / Forest Service wilderness recreation strategy / readings quiz Chapter 16
Week 15
December 6-10 / Tuesday / Catch-up day; no-rescue wilderness debate
Thursday / student evals; personal values re-test; review for final exam
The final exam is scheduled for Thursday, December 16 at 8:00 am. Do not make travel plans that preclude you from taking the final exam at this time.
And finally . . .
Please keep all returned quizzes, exams and lab/field trip reports. If there is disagreement over a grade (e.g. I might make a typo entering your quiz or exam score), your memory of what score you received will not be enough to convince me to change the score; only hard evidence in the form of the original quiz, exam, etc. will do that.
I insist that you turn off cell phones, iPods, etc. when in class. If you use a computer to take notes for the course, please do not use it for other purposes during lectures (e.g., surfing the web or checking e-mail).
If you e-mail me in the evening or over the weekend, do not expect a reply until the following work day. I’m not connected to my e-mail like it’s an intravenous drip.
Do not rely on me to supply you with course notes if/when you miss a lecture. I won’t be handing out copies of my notes (not that they are decipherable anyway). Make arrangements with a classmate to get his or her notes (hint: ask someone who takes good notes).
Don’t come to my office if you smell of smoke, cigarette or otherwise. It’s a small space that is not well ventilated.
When you communicate with me, please be as professional as possible. If you e-mail me, please tell me who you are; I don’t know who is. Do not use text-messaging protocols when you send me an e-mail. “OMG, that wz some crzy*&$! u sed in cls tdy. thxbye” OMG is right – don’t torture me with that! Complete sentences, words spelled correctly, appropriate punctuation, capitalizing letters when appropriate…these are the sorts of things I mean.
Thank you. I feel much better now.
Forestry 374 -- Field Trip Report Format
Please address the following questions/items. Guessing or “I don’t know” are not acceptable responses to any of the questions or items being addressed; if you don’t know--find out. Field trip reports must be typed.
1. your name
2. trip number (1 or 2)
3. date of your trip
4. name of wilderness or roadless area visited
5. name of managing agency
6. What trailhead did you use?
7. Describe your hiking route.
8. Describe the location and condition of your campsite.
9. Describe the rules and regulations of the area (e.g. permits? designated campsites? open fires? stock use?
group size? etc.)
10. Did it appear to you that the rules were being followed? Please elaborate.
11. Describe some of the unique features and/or qualities of the area.
12. Describe your impressions of the type(s) of visitor(s) who use the area.
13. Does commercially-guided use occur in the area? If yes, briefly describe the nature of the use (e.g. stock?
hunting? etc.).
14. What is your perception of the wildness and naturalness of the area? What are the opportunities for an
unconfined, primitive wilderness experience?
15. What is your perception of the opportunity for solitude?
16. To the best of your knowledge, what is the extent and severity of ecological impacts in the area?
17. Did you encounter bears at your campsite? If yes, please elaborate.
18. What is the managing agency’s policy on wildfires?
19. Did you see, or do you know of, any non-conforming uses that occur in the area (e.g. cattle or sheep grazing,
mining, motorized use?) If yes, please elaborate.
20. Did you experience any conflicts with other users? If yes, please elaborate.
21. What “management presence” (direct or indirect) did you encounter? Please describe/elaborate.
22. In general, do you think the area is well managed? Why or why not?