FRST 415 – POLI 404A (Fall 2011)
Multistakeholder Consultation Exercise
Relaxing Environmental Constraints to Increase the Mid-Term Timber Supply – November 22
FRST_POLI_MPB Simulation Groups Sep 20 2011
Marking Rubric for Briefs briefMarking Guideline 2011
Guide for writing an advocacy brief Guide to writing an advocacy brief
Objective: A major component of the course is a simulation of a multi-stakeholder consultation on a topical issue in BC forest policy. The objectives of this exercise are to develop practical skills — teamwork, research, and communication — necessary for constructive participation in policy development, while simultaneously developing a deep understanding of one crucial component of forest policy.
Scenario: The Minister of Forests, Land, and Natural Resource Operations has proposed, as a way to increase the midterm timber supply in regions affected by the mountain pine beetle epidemic, to relax some of the environmental constraints in the Forest Range and Practices Act for those areas. The Minister has directed a multistakeholder body to forge a consensus on new standards for the protection of environmental values in interior forests by the end of the calendar year.
Organization: The class will be divided into ten groups reflecting different stakeholders involved in the process: the BC Ministry of Environment; Wilderness Tourism Association of BC; ForestEthics; Cariboo-Chilcotin Consevation Society; Council of Forest Industries; Canfor; Interior Logging Association; United Steelworkers; Carrier Sekani Tribal Council; and First Nations Forestry Council.
Process: Students will be assigned to groups based on random selection. Some class time will be set aside for group meetings. In addition, students are expected to consult “real world” versions of their caucuses. There will be an evening (5-9), mock multi-stakeholder consultation on (Tuesday November 22). Groups are also responsible for selecting their representative (and an alternate) to speak and negotiate for them during the consultation. A set of readings are assigned that provide an overview of the policies in this area. Students are expected to read beyond these to supplement their understanding of the case.
Assessment: The simulation accounts for 30% of your grade, components of which have been allocated and designed to stimulate both effective group and individual effort:
- 10% for the group brief due November 15, not to exceed 2000 words. This is a group project, which clearly and concisely presents the group’s initial position on how to revise the rules. It should contain references.
- 10% for each student’s participation in the group. This grade will be based on the recommendations for grades that students provide for each other, as well as student retrospective analysis of the event.
- 10% for the performance of each group in the consultation.
Note: The group brief needs to be submitted to www.turnitin.com before being submitted the instructor. The class ID number is 1973825, the password is talltrees. If you do not already have a user profile on the site, you will have to create one.
Required Reading for Multi-Stakeholder Simulation Exercise. Note: Here is the beginning of the minimal required readings; several more will be added later. Much useful information is also contained in the recommended readings, and you may want to consult other documents as well.
Jim Snetsinger, “Mountain Pine Beetle and Midterm Timber Supply,” BC Forest Professional May-June 2011. http://www.abcfp.ca/publications_forms/BCFORmagazine/documents/BCFORPRO-2011-3_AllArticles/BCFORPRO-2011-3_Snetsinger.pdf
B.C. Ministry of Forests and Range, Forest Analysis Branch, Timber Supply and the Mountain Pine Beetle Infestation in British Columbia 2007 Update, http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hfp/mountain_pine_beetle/Pine_Beetle_Update20070917.pdf
Meitner, M., South, C., and Wieler, C. (2011) Post-mountain pine beetle recreational usage survey: project final report. Prepared for the Competitiveness and Innovation Branch, BC Ministry of Forest, Lands and Natural Resource Operations, pp. 1-69. Meitner_Final_Report
Forest Practices Board, Biodiversity Conservation during Salvage Logging in the Central Interior of BC,November 2009
5:00-6:00 Initial Presentation from Caucuses (5 minutes each)
6:00-6:45 Facilitator Identification of areas of agreement and disagreement
6:45-7:15 Dinner Break: Group meetings
7:15-8:15 Narrow range of disagreements
8:15-8:45 Establish consensus position or range of option
8:45-9:00 Debrief
