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Reminder. First exam March 13 th (Next Thursday) Revised Syllabus will be online by Thursday Extra Credit: 4 points on the mid-term exam if you attend research seminar on WENDESDAY at 2pm Study Guide available Thursday Readings: Chapter 1, Layzer Reading, Ostrom readings and Hardin Reading.
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Reminder • First exam March 13th (Next Thursday) • Revised Syllabus will be online by Thursday • Extra Credit: 4 points on the mid-term exam if you attend research seminar on WENDESDAY at 2pm • Study Guide available Thursday • Readings: Chapter 1, Layzer Reading, Ostrom readings and Hardin Reading
4 extra exam points School for the Environment SPRING 2014 – SEMINAR SERIES WEDNESDAY, MARCH 5th (tomorrow!) Small Science Auditorium, 1st Floor, Room 006 2:00 -3:30 PM Dr. Mark Sorice, Virginia Tech University
“Changing Landowners, Changing Ecosystem? Land-Ownership Motivations as Drivers of Land Cover Change” Abstract: One of the most striking land-cover changes on rangelands worldwide over the past 150 years has been the proliferation of trees and shrubs at the expense of perennial grasses. This woody plant encroachment, which is fundamentally altering landscapes, can be traced to a variety of factors including historic overgrazing, reduction in the extent and frequency of fires, and increases in carbon dioxide. Woody plant encroachment is perpetuated and potentially exacerbated by the social forces that drive land management decisions. With urban and suburban residents increasingly attracted to rural areas for their natural and cultural amenities there is an increased heterogeneity in motivations for owning land. This may ultimately lead to a cultural shift in which the shared beliefs of lifestyle-oriented landowners dominate land management decisions. Consequently, questions exist about the potential effects of this shift on ecosystem structure and the sustainability of rural livelihoods. My research seeks to understand the social landscape and the potential role social drivers play in the context of a changing ecological landscape.
4 extra exam points School for the Environment SPRING 2014 – SEMINAR SERIES WEDNESDAY, MARCH 5th (tomorrow!) Small Science Auditorium, 1st Floor, Room 006 2:00 -3:30 PM Dr. Mark Sorice, Virginia Tech University
OK….Last Time….Keystone Pipeline Phase 1: Completed 2010 Phase 2: Completed 2011 Phase 3: (Gulf Extension) opened in January 2014 Phase 4: Pending authorization. Obama rejected it in 2012 partially due to environmentalists and some congressional concerns Pipeline ‘owned’ by Transcanada
Ecological Issues:Nebraska “Sandhills” -National Natural Landmark -Minimal agricultural development has left native ecosystem largely intact
Issues: Concerns: Oil spills, water contamination, continued reliance on fossil fuels, disruption of cultural land areas, eminent domain = All different
Decision-makers in Government Judicial Executive Legislature Appointed Heads of Departments Branch Agencies Civil servants Contractors
Decision-makers in Government Elected Judicial Executive Legislature Appointed Heads of Departments Branch Agencies Civil servants Contractors
Decision-makers in Government Judicial Executive Legislature Appointed Appointed Heads of Departments Branch Agencies Civil servants Contractors
Decision-makers in Government Judicial Executive Legislature Appointed Heads of Departments Branch Agencies Civil servants Hired aka bureaucrats Contractors
Actors outside Government Judicial Executive Legislature Private land-owners Trans-Canada Appointed Heads of Departments Branch Agencies Green-peace Tribes Civil servants Contractors
Actors outside Government Judicial Executive Legislature Private land-owners Trans-Canada Appointed Heads of Departments Branch Agencies Green-peace Tribes Civil servants Contractors
Actors outside Government Judicial Executive Legislature Private land-owners Trans-Canada Appointed Heads of Departments Branch Agencies Green-peace Tribes Civil servants Contractors
Strategies and Tactics • Strategies is the overall goal an NGO has when they try to influence policy • Tactics are the specific ways in which NGOs go about trying to reach their goal (to make/inform policy) • Which tactic an NGO chooses will be highly dependent on the organizational resources available to them!
So if we agree there are problems, then why don’t we do something about it?
Environmental conflicts involve fighting about: • the ways we perceiveenvironmental problems • the ways we definethose problems through politics, and • what we do about problems that we’ve defined (action) Savannah River Site (nuclear fuel reprocessing)—environmental restoration of soil and groundwater
How do people change environmental conditions? • change your individual behavior • economic action • usepoliticsto: -persuade organizations or individuals to change -get government to take action
How do people change environmental conditions? • change your individual behavior • economic action • use politics to: -persuade organizations or individuals to change -get government to take action How do you guys change someone’s behavior or get them to do what you want them to?
Today • Overview of “values into policy” discussion • Overview of the phases of “environmentalism” • Introduction to Actors in Environmental Policy • Governmental Actors • Non-governmental Actors • Structures of Government (probably Thurs)
Next Tuesday • Managing common-pool resources (aka tragedy of the commons)
Layzer Reading 2 Part Argument: (1) Environmental Conflict is almost always concern fundamental differences in values (2) The way problems are defined and solutions are depicted plays a central role in shaping how those values are translated into policies
Values into Policy • People think that humans “ought” to interact with the environment in different ways • Influenced by beliefs
Values into Policy • People think that humans “ought” to interact with the environment in different ways • Influenced by beliefs • However, use terms of science, economics, and risk to frame their arguments.
Values into Policy • People think that humans “ought” to interact with the environment in different ways • Influenced by beliefs • However, use terms of science, economics, and risk to frame their arguments. • 2 Basic camps: Environmentalists versus Cornucopians
Reminder • Exam next Thursday • Study guide posted on the wiki • Review (Tues?)
Environmentalists • Earliest Form: Late 18th/Early 19th Century • Preservation: seeks to maintain the inherent beauty and function of natural systems • Examples: George Caitlin, Theoreau, Muir
Environmentalists • Second Form: Turn of the 20th Century • Conservation: managing natural resources without waste. • Examples: Gifford Pinchot (USFS)
Environmentalists • Third Form: After WWII • Humans as part of ecosystems: Fighting against loss of ecosystem and human health: Seeking balance and viewing human/nature interaction as a complex system and there are limits to growth. • Examples: Aldo Leopold, Donella Meadows
Environmentalists What is happening in the US during this time in terms of (1) events and (2) knowledge? 1776 1850 1950 2014 -----------------Preservationists-------------------------------------------------------------- --------- --Conservationists----------------------------------------- -- - Environmental Health
Cornucopians • Value economic growth: there are/will be technological solutions to resource problems. • Regulatory policies will limit economic growth and productivity • Examples: Julian Simon and Herman Kahn
Cornucopians • Value on individual liberty (to do what one wishes without interference) • Assign property rights to the world’s resources and let the market dictate allocation
To Influence Environmental Policy • Convince others of your view • Simplifying complex realities and “framing” • Defining “heroes” and “villans” • Drawing attention to some elements and minimizing others • Translate scientific explanations into causal stories
Actors outside Government Judicial Executive Legislature Private land-owners Trans-Canada Appointed Heads of Departments Branch Agencies Green-peace Tribes Civil servants Contractors
Cornucopians http://co2isgreen.org/default.aspx/MenuItemID/138/MenuGroup/Home.htm
So Far… • We have environmental policies b/c people generally believe that we should take care of the environment and environmental problems exist.
So Far… • We have environmental policies b/c people generally believe that we should take care of the environment and environmental problems exist. • However, conflict arises based on who and how these problems are perceived, defined, and what solutions are suggested.
So Far… • We have environmental policies b/c people generally believe that we should take care of the environment and environmental problems exist. • However, conflict arises based on who and how these problems are perceived, defined, and what solutions are suggested. • People involved in these conflicts: environmentalists and cornucopians.