Trends in undergraduate enrollment in natural resources at NAPFSC Institutions, 1980-2003

Undergraduate enrollments were obtained by degree programs in natural resources for a representative sample (n=30) of universities having membership in the National Association of Professional Forestry Schools and Colleges (NAPFSC). Nationally, enrollments dropped to a low point in 1987, increased sharply to a maximum in 1995, and then decreased steadily through the present (2003). This trend differed little among geographic regions

An Integrative Model of Graduate Education in Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Production in Fragmented Landscapes

To achieve biodiversity conservation and sustainable production in anthropogenically fragmented landscapes, scientists need to be trained in a holistic fashion that emphasizes integration and interdisciplinary collaboration. Traditional graduate programs in natural resources, conservation biology and agricultural sciences usually fall short of this goal as they train scientists with research knowledge and skills in narrowly defined disciplines. Rarely, if ever, is integration across disciplines facilitated, valued, or emphasized in either coursework or research activities

Managing for climate change on federal lands of the western United States: perceived usefulness of climate science, effectiveness of adaptation strategies, and barriers to implementation

Recent mandates in the United States require federal agencies to incorporate climate change science into land management planning efforts. These mandates target possible adaptation and mitigation strategies. However, the degree to which climate change is actively being considered in agency planning and management decisions is largely unknown. We explored the usefulness of climate change science for federal resource managers, focusing on the efficacy of potential adaptation strategies and barriers limiting the use of climate change science in adaptation efforts. Our study was conducted in the northern Rocky Mountains region of the western United States, where we interacted with 77 U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management personnel through surveys, semistructured interviews, and four collaborative workshops at locations across Idaho and Montana. We used a mixed-methods approach to evaluate managers' perceptions about adapting to and mitigating for climate change. Although resource managers incorporate general language about climate change in regional and landscape-level planning documents, they are currently not planning on-the-ground adaptation or mitigation projects. However, managers felt that their organizations were most likely to adapt to climate change through use of existing management strategies that are already widely implemented for other non climate-related management goals. These existing strategies, (e.g., thinning and prescribed burning) are perceived as more feasible than new climate-specific methods (e.g., assisted migration) because they already have public and agency support, accomplish multiple goals, and require less anticipation of the future timing and probability of climate change impacts. Participants reported that the most common barriers to using climate change information included a lack of management-relevant climate change science, inconsistent agency guidance, and insufficient time and resources to access, interpret, and apply current climate science information to management plans.Key words: adaptation; Bureau of Land Management; climate change; decision making; Forest Service; land management; public landsThis is the publisher’s final pdf. The published article is copyrighted by the author(s) and published by Resilience Alliance. The published article can be found at: http://www.ecologyandsociety.org

Resultats D'une Enquete Sur La Participation Des Villageois Dans L'Amenagement Des Forets Au Mali (Points De Vue Agents Des Eaux Et Forets Maliens)

The report describes a study conducted in Mali to determine the opinions of forest employees about public involvement, the reasons that villagers are or aren't involved in the management of their forests, and the ways to best encourage the villagers to consciously maintain a balance between their needs and ecological needs

Results of a Survey on Residential Wood Energy Use in Idaho

The report presents information about the use of wood energy for residential heating throughout the state of Idaho

Understanding Firewood Use In Idaho

The note describes a mail survey examining firewood collecting and wood heating behaviors

Access to Alternative Catalogs: A Simulation Model

published or submitted for publicatio

Bridges and Barriers to Developing and Conducting Interdisciplinary Graduate-Student Team Research

Understanding complex socio-environmental problems requires specialists from multiple disciplines to integrate research efforts. Programs such as the National Science Foundation's Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship facilitate integrated research efforts and change the way academic institutions train future leaders and scientists. The University of Idaho and the Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center in Costa Rica collaborate on a joint research program focusing on biodiversity conservation and sustainable production in fragmented landscapes. We first present a spectrum of integration ranging from disciplinary to transdisciplinary across seven aspects of the research process. We then describe our experiences and lessons learned conducting interdisciplinary graduate student team research. Using our program as a case study, we examine the individual, disciplinary, and programmatic bridges and barriers to conducting interdisciplinary research that emerged during our student team research projects. We conclude with a set of recommendations for exploiting the bridges and overcoming the barriers to conducting interdisciplinary research, especially as part of graduate education programs