The course explores basic planning theory, planning processes, policy, and effective plan writing. The course provides a thorough treatment of elements that characterize effective planning on public lands. A substantial part of this discussion is the role of public participation in planning. It also discusses differences in planning among the four federal land management agencies, with a comparison of the philosophy and application of each.
Moving from planning to application, the course then gives examples of the Limits of Acceptable Change (LAC) framework and Keeping It Wild (KIW2), currently two of the most widely used planning processes in wilderness. This provides a model for identifying the elements necessary to provide a workable plan, one that is ultimately capable of being implemented. The role of indicators and standards of quality in wilderness is likewise discussed, as is the importance of executing a monitoring program.
This course is available for graduate credit only. It is the student’s responsibility to verify the transferability of courses to their degree-granting institution and intended major.
This course is part of the Wilderness Management Distance Education Program. Courses are offered in two formats: online and traditional distance education (correspondence). WMDEP offers accredited university courses for a comprehensive study of wilderness management. WMDEP is a valuable tool for understanding the wilderness resource and the issues surrounding its management-includes topics from philosophy and ecology to recreation and planning.