Policymaking is tough: Managing the National Forests

1
Policymaking is tough Managing the National
Forests

• Peter Balint
• George Mason University

2
Outline

• History of ideas shaping the Forest Service
• Current problem in the Sierra Nevada
• Our contribution (?)
• Conclusions

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Rise and fall of scientific management

• Gospel of efficiency rises, as opposed to
• Everyday corruption, ignorance, waste, and
  confusion
• Sacred Nature
• Foundations crumble in slow motion
• Post-Holocaust/Hiroshima
• Post-Vietnam/Watergate
• Post-modernism

4
New actors

• Environmental movement
• Property rights movement
• Laws
• Courts
• Recreational users
• Industry associations

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New approaches

• Public participation
• Economic analysis
• Ecosystem management

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New (same old?) result

• A big mess
• Problems become wicked
• Process is politicized
• Decision-making is paralyzed

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Silver linings?

• Divergent values recognized
• Scientific uncertainty acknowledged
• Participation accepted
• Hubris deflated
• Bureaucratic options reconsidered

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The Sierra Nevada

• Owls/earth/water/fire/people
• CASPO/DEIS/RDEIS/FAC/SNEP/FEIS/ ROD
• Gridlock

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RUP

• Paper on risk and uncertainty
• Workshops with professionals and public
• Clarification of stakeholder preferences (and
  values)
• Final report with recommendations
• Publications

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Conclusions

• Almost certain failure in the real world
• Possible success in the academic world
• Potential wide applicability
• Huge, complex, challenging, frightening,
  fascinating problem