Development of a Methodology for Community Input: Recommendations

to the Los Padres National Forest Management Plan

The Team: Nicholle Fratus, Jill Komoto, Kelly Lamb, Carolina Morgan, Tom Whitaker, Sarah Worth

Advisor: Frank DavisClients: Los Padres National Forest

Community Forestry International

Meeting AgendaProject Proposal PresentationObjectivesBackgroundProject ApproachDeliverablesProject Timeline

DiscussionReview of issues and remaining questions

of project teamGeneral discussion of project proposal

Problem Facing Los PadresSteady decline of FS recreational planning manpower and budget

Public perception of illusory level of public involvement in forest management planning

Decline in public participation in planning processLimited and non-representative public input

Project ObjectivesDevelop recommendations for Los Padres to increase and improve the quality of the public’s involvement in the development of the recreational element of the forest management plan.

Increase interest and involvement of community stakeholders in forest stewardship.

Project Focus AreaLos Padres National ForestSanta Barbara Ranger District

National Forest Management PlanningNational Forest Management Act (1976)Requires NFs to update management

plans every 10-15 years

FS currently in process of updating plans for 4 southern Cal Forests (LP, Angeles, Cleveland, San Bernardino)Draft EIS: September 2002Final EIS: September 2003Publish Forest Plan: February 2004

Inform Consult Involve Collaborate Empower

Public Participation Spectrum

Characteristics of Collaboration-based and Participatory Planning

Collaboration-based Planning•Interdisciplinary approach: cross-disciplinary integration.

•Stakeholders educate each other.

•Informal face to face dialogue among stakeholders.

•Continuous stakeholder participation throughout the planning process.

•Stakeholder participation encouraged to create a holistic plan.

•Joint information search used to determine facts.

Adapted from Gray (1989)

Participatory Planning•Multidisciplinary approach: compartmentalization of disciplines.

•Education is believed only to be necessary for the public.

•Over reliance on public hearings and other formal input methods.

•Participation of stakeholders only requested at certain points in the planning process.

•Stakeholder participation generally encouraged only to create support for a plan.

•Science used to buttress positions and refute other parties’ data.

Collaborative Planning Conceptual Model

Background

Research

Stakeholder Assessment

Case Study Review

Map Forest Recreation Use

Collaborative Planning Matrix Methodology for

Collaborative Planning within Los Padres

Test Methodology for Success/Problems

Approach

Background ResearchCollaborative Processes Review collaborative planning literature to

identify different applied methods and theories

Forest Service Characterize the current planning process

through planning document reviews, literature reviews, and FS interviews

Forest Service Organization Identify FS constraints involved in

collaborative planning

Stakeholder AssessmentCompile existing stakeholder information

Semi-structured interviews with 20-25 different stakeholder group representatives to determine, Willingness for involvement Available resources Forest management goals Knowledge on Forest Service and planning

process Forest use patterns View of FS public input process

Map Forest Recreation UseGIS mapping of recreation use patterns within the Santa Barbara Ranger DistrictCompile information from existing visitor use data and stakeholder group interviewsUse map information and stakeholder interviews to assess where recreational use conflicts may exist or arise in the future

Comparative Case Study ReviewSelect collaborative planning case studies for review based on: Case issues involve natural resource management Provide us with a broad spectrum of

methods/approaches and the corresponding level of success

Full political spectrum… federal to local

Conduct case study analysis and informal interviews with participants and facilitatorsSome potential cases: Applegate Partnership Quincy Library Group San Juan National Forest Initiative Canyon Country Partnership

Collaborative Planning MatrixDevelop collaborative planning matrix from case study analysisMotivation for collaborationManagement objectivesMethods usedStakeholders involvedRegulatory and other constraintsKeys to success/failure

Methodology for Los PadresUsing information from collaborative matrix, develop methodology for collaborative process that fits best for Santa Barbara RD recreational planning

Methodology will take into account:FS constraintsStakeholders involvedConflicts between users

Test Selected ProcessImplement small scale test of selected collaborative processConduct post-session interviews with

participants to assess success and/or problems with selected process

Select participants from original stakeholder assessment group for a comparative analysis of feelings regarding FS collaboration before and after

Modify methodology based on results of tested process

DeliverablesStakeholder Assessment: 10/11/02

Map of Recreation Use in Los Padres National Forest: 11/29/02

Matrix of Case Study Characteristics: 2/7/03

Methodology for Community Input: 2/7/03

TimelineResearch collaborative processes: 4/13/02 - 7/15/02

Forest Service background: 4/13/02 – 7/15/02

Stakeholder assessment: 7/1/02 – 10/18/02 Assess existing data: 7/1/02 – 7/15/02 Criteria for selecting stakeholders: 7/8/02 – 7/15/02 Develop questions: 7/15/02 – 8/26/02 Interview stakeholders: 9/9/02 – 10/11/02

Mapping of recreation use in the forest: 7/1/02 – 11/29/02

Comparative Case Study Review: 7/1/02 – 11/6/02 Develop matrix of case study characteristics: 2/7/03

Develop Draft Methodology: 11/6/02 – 2/7/03 Evaluation of selected process 1/17/03 Final methodology: 2/7/03

Questions/Remaining Issues

Criteria for selecting case studies?

Method for comparing case studies

What other information should we obtain from stakeholders?

Additional potential case studies

Forest@bren.ucsb.edu

User Groups