Course Information

Wilderness Management – ENV 298.47 (2 credits)     Spring 2012

  Course Description

This course will cover the fundamental American concepts of wilderness, the legal and historical framework for wilderness, the ecological and social issues that underlie management of a wilderness area, and the development and practical application of terrestrial wilderness management techniques. The course will be a reading and discussion intensive course. Students should have taken at least one course in ecology or land use planning as a prerequisite.

Since this is a two-credit course that meets for two thirds of the semester, students should expect the equivalent weekly workload of a three-credit course during period that the course meets. The course will have a required field trip to the Linville Gorge Wilderness Area in either February or March, TBD.

Course Objectives

• Understand the how the wilderness ideal and the concept of wilderness management evolved.
• Understand the development, framework and management ramifications of The Wilderness Act and subsequent wilderness legislation, in addition to the current state of wilderness policy.
• Garner a general knowledge of the ecological and social issues that underlie wilderness management policy.
• Understand the similarities and differences in the mandates, policies, and management approaches of the four federal agencies responsible for wilderness management in the U.S.
• Understand the difference between federally designated Wilderness, state-designated wilderness, and un-designated wilderness.
• Understand the fundamental techniques, methods, and tools in the planning and practical application of wilderness management.
• Develop an in-depth understanding of the wilderness management practices, policies, and issues of a specific wilderness area of the student’s choosing.

Course Instructors

This course will be co-taught and coordinated by Dr. Jennifer Swenson and Scott Kelly. This course was initially developed by Ashley Adams (MEM, 2009), who now works for the National Park Service as Natural Resource Specialist in the Wilderness Stewardship Division.

Contact information: Scott Kelly (scott.kelly@duke.edu)

Jennifer Swenson (jswenson@duke.edu)

Meeting Times and Location:

1:15-2:30 Mondays and Wednesdays, January 11-March 28, LSRC A211

 Structure

Each class period will consist of a brief lecture presentation of the day’s topic to give background history and fundamental knowledge of the concept. The remainder of the period will consist of instructor and/or student lead discussion of the assigned readings and the issues associated with them. Guest speakers will also be featured. Attendance, evidence of having read the assigned materials, and substantive participation in class discussions will be reflected in the participation grade. Please notify the instructors as soon as possible if you will be unable to attend any class meetings.

Readings

Required readings derived from multiple sources will be provided via electronic reserves through Blackboard or email circulation. See Course Syllabus for more detail.

Required Texts:

Hendee, J.C. and C.P. Dawson. 2009. Wilderness Management: Stewardship and Protection of Resources and Values. Fulcrum Publishing, Golden, CO. Fourth Edition.

Wilderness Management has undergone some major changes in the past decade, so you will need the latest (4th) edition.

Nash, Roderick. 2001. Wilderness and the American Mind. Yale University Press, New Haven, CT. Fourth Edition.

Assignments

There will be two papers and one presentation required for the class, which will be based on a specific wilderness area chosen by the student. Each student will also choose a topic from the syllabus and will lead the class discussion on that topic. The student’s role as discussion leader will be incorporated into the participation grade.

The first paper will be a broad overview of the student’s wilderness area. Specifically, the paper will focus on why the area was perceived to be important from a wilderness perspective, how and when the wilderness was designated, whether designation or enabling legislation set any precedents or clarify management for other wilderness areas, what criteria was used for land inclusion in the wilderness area, the ecological and social issues that face wilderness managers in the student’s chosen wilderness, and how the philosophy of the management agency or agencies influence this perspective.

The second (final) paper will be a compilation of the first paper plus an analysis of the current management plan (Is it adaptive? What elements are included or excluded? What issues does it address?) and an in-depth evaluation of a specific issue facing the wilderness area from a management perspective. (What is the issue? Why is it an issue? What are the practical social and ecological management techniques been undertaken by the wilderness manager to address this issue? Have other wilderness areas dealt with issue, and how do they compare? Can the wilderness manager learn from other areas?) The first paper will be 2-3 pages in length, and the final paper will be no more than 8 pages (single spaced).

The purpose of these assignments is to give the student an in-depth understanding of the wilderness concepts and management as they relate to a wilderness in a real-world setting, and also provide a basis to share unique attributes and issues that pertain to their wilderness with the class.

Grading

Class Participation:     35%

First Paper:                  20%

Final Presentation:      15%

Final Paper:                 30%

Sakai

The Duke Sakai system is used extensively in this course to post various class materials

(e.g., lecture notes, readings, supplementary resources/web sites) and to post student grades forall exams, quizzes and activities. The Sakai site can be found at http://sakai.duke.edu/ .

Course Syllabus (subject to change!)

Wilderness Management – ENV 298.47 (2 credits)

Spring 2012

NOTE:            Readings and assignments are to be completed by the day they are listed. Participation grades will be largely based on demonstrated comprehension and evaluation of the reading materials.

SECTION 1: WILDERNESS HISTORY & WILDERNESS DESIGNATION

 January 11 – What Is Wilderness and US Land Management Agencies 101 – Course Overview

Readings:  Nash pp. xi-7, “Introduction” & “Prologue”

Dawson & Hendee pp. 1-28

Assignment: Do the Reader Exercise on pp. 26-27 & bring your results to class

January 16 – Martin Luther King Day – No Class

January 18 –Early Perceptions of Wilderness

Readings:  Nash pp. 23-66,  “A Wilderness Condition” & “The Romantic Wilderness”

Assignment: Come prepared to share your personal perceptions of wilderness. What does the termmean to you? Where would you draw the line between “wilderness” and “non-wilderness”            Bring a list of your top three choices for wilderness areas to study.

January 23 – Contemporary History of Wilderness

Readings: Dawson & Hendee pp. 36-47

Nash pp. 161-181, “Hetch Hetchy”

Role Play: Hetch Hetchy – Prepare to argue on behalf of the major players in the Hetch Hetchy debate

January 25 – The Wilderness Act of 1964 (and beyond)

Readings:  Dawson & Hendee pp. 90-110, 143-146, 495-499

Discussion:     Be prepared to discuss the strengths and weaknesses of The Wilderness Act. What would you have done differently and why?

January 30 – Wilderness Designation: Policy & Practice

Readings:  Dawson & Hendee pp. 114-116, 119-139, 142

“Wilderness Management Agencies” from “The Wilderness Act Handbook.” The Wilderness Society. 2004.

Role Play:  How much wilderness to designate?

-          Pro-wilderness environmentalist

-          Anti-wilderness environmentalist

-          Timber company

-          USFS administrator

-          Local ski resort

February 1 – ANCSA, ANILCA, and Alaskan Wilderness

Readings: Nash pp. 272-315, “Alaska”

Discussion:     Consider the changes in science, politics, and land management that have taken place in thepast 32 years. What might ANILCA look like were it drafted today?  If you have been to Alaska, come prepared to discuss and reflect upon your experiences.

SECTION II: PLANNING & MANAGEMENT

February 6 – NWPS & Complementary Conservation Areas

Readings:  Dawson & Hendee pp. 163-171, 174-176

Nash pp. 116-121, New York Example from “Wilderness Preserved”

Skim: Roadless Area Conservation – Final Rule. USDA Forest Service. 2001.

Role Play:  Be prepared to argue for or against a permanent federal “Roadless Recreation Area” designation.

-          The Sierra Club

-          The Wilderness Society

-          Timber company

-          USFS administrator

-          Outdoor recreation guide/outfitter

February 8 – Principles of Wilderness Management

Readings:  Dawson & Hendee pp. 180-193

Birkhead Case Study Background

Growth in Mountain Biking May Put Western Trails Off Limits.                                                                          http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/11/sports/11bikes.html?_r=1

Mountain Bike Recreation and Designated Wilderness: A Case for Reconsideration

http://www.americantrails.org/resources/fedland/BikeWilderness.html

Case Study:    Birkhead Mountain Biking – Management consistent with principles

February 13 – Wilderness Planning

Readings:  Dawson & Hendee pp. 196-214

Thorough Skim: White Mountain National Forest Wilderness Management Plan. 2010.

Case Study:    White Mountain Plan – Strengths and Weaknesses

Speaker:    Ashley Adams, Wilderness Planner, National Park Service      (tentative)

February 15 – Ecosystems & Boundary Effects

Readings:  Dawson & Hendee pp. 252-270

Ginn et al. “The Spatial Relationship Between Exurban Development and Designated                                       Wilderness Lands in the Contiguous United States.” 2008.

White et al. “Disturbance, Scale, and Boundary in Wilderness Management.” USDA Forest

Service Proceedings. 2000.

Speaker:    David Kirk, Senior Lands Specialist, Wilderness Land Trust (tentative)

February 20 – Managing for Wilderness Conditions & LAC

Readings:  Dawson & Hendee pp. 218-224, 234-247

Speaker:    Ashley Adams, Natural Resource Specialist, Wilderness Stewardship Division, NPS

February 22 – Wildlife in Wilderness

Readings:  Ream et al. “Managing Natural Populations of Wildlife in Wilderness” 1989.

Dawson & Hendee pp. 309-332

Discussion:     Be prepared to argue for and against wolf reintroduction programs.

February 27 – Wilderness Use

Readings:  Dawson & Hendee pp. 358-382

McCool, S.F. “Does Wilderness Designation Lead to Increased Recreational Use?” Journal of

Forestry. January, 1985.

February 29 – Ecological Impacts of Recreational Use

Readings:  Dawson & Hendee pp. 396-410, 423-431

Skim: 2009 Annual Report – Visitor Use & Impact Monitoring Program, Yosemite NP

Assignment:    Paper #1 due March 2 by 5:00pm to Sakai

Speaker:    Todd Newburger, Visitor Use & Impact Monitoring Program Manager, Yosemite NP

(tentative)

March 5 & March 7 – Spring Break – No Class

March 12 – Visitor Use Management

Readings:  Dawson & Hendee pp. 33-35, 440-445, 454-482

Cole, D. N. & Vita Wright. “Information about Wilderness Visitors and Recreation

Impacts.” International Journal of Wilderness. April 2004, pp. 27-31.

“The New Forest Service Wilderness Recreation Strategy.” International Journal of

Wilderness. April 2001, pp. 12-19.

Discussion:     Debate the Forest Service Wilderness Strategy

March 14 – Wilderness Character

Readings:  Dawson & Hendee pp 445-454

Skim: Landres et al. “Keeping it Wild: An Interagency Strategy to Monitor Trends in

Wilderness Character Across the NWPS.” 2008.

Hall, T. “Hikers’ Perspectives on Solitude and Wilderness.” International Journal of

Wilderness. August 2001. pp. 20-24.

Speaker:    John Buchheit, Backcountry & Wilderness Ranger, Shenandoah NP   (tentative)

March 19 – Fire in the Wilderness

Readings:  Dawson & Hendee pp. 275-296

Christensen, N. L. et al. “Interpreting the Yellowstone Fires of 1988.” BioScience. Vol 39,

No 10. 1989.

Parsons, D. J. “The Challenge of Restoring Natural Fire to Wilderness.” USDA FS

Proceedings. RMRS-P-15-VOL-5. 2000.

Speaker:    Norm Christensen, Professor, Duke University

March 21 – Looking to the Future

Readings:  Nash pp. 379-390

Dawson & Hendee pp. 487-493

Hobbs et al. “Guiding Concepts for Park and Wilderness Stewardship in an Era of Global

Environmental Change.” Frontiers in Ecology. 2009. pp. 483-490.

March 26 – Student Presentations (10)

March 28 – Student Presentations (8) & Course Wrap-Up

Assignment:    Final Paper due March 30 by 5:00pm to Sakai

Applicants are invited to apply for a PhD assistantship in the Nicholas School of the Environment or the University Program in Ecology at Duke University beginning Fall of 2012. Areas of research include landscape-scale forest and land cover change in tropical and temperate regions; examining terrestrial ecological patterns with respect to ecosystem function and environmental policies in the context of climate change. Desirable backgrounds include spatial analysis (remote sensing, GIS) applied to ecological/environmental phenomena, Master’s degree preferred. Teaching assistantship responsibilities would likely be graduate-level courses in remote sensing and geospatial analysis for conservation applications. Interested applicants should send a brief letter of introduction, CV/resume, statement of relevant research experience and interests (1-2 pages), and unofficial transcripts to Dr. Jennifer Swenson (jswenson@duke.edu) by December 1st, 2011

Applicants are invited to apply for a PhD assistantship in the Nicholas School of the Environment at Duke University beginning Fall of 2012. Areas of research include landscape-scale forest and land cover change in tropical and temperate regions; examining terrestrial ecological patterns with respect to ecosystem function and environmental policies in the context of climate change. Desirable backgrounds include spatial analysis (remote sensing, GIS) applied to ecological/environmental phenomena, Master’s degree preferred.  Teaching assistantship responsibilities would likely be graduate-level courses in remote sensing and geospatial analysis for conservation applications. Interested applicants should send a brief letter of introduction, CV/resume, statement of relevant research experience and interests (1-2 pages), and unofficial transcripts to Dr. Jennifer Swenson (jswenson@duke.edu) by December 1st, 2011