This is an exciting time for natural resources planning. There are amazing technologies available to planners and a wide and growing array of resources, problems, and opportunities that need attention. Private and public interests are taking up these issues all over the world and at all levels of involvement. At the same time, inefficient planning policies and procedures can threaten the art of successful planning.
Demonstrating how to put effective planning theory into practice, Introduction to Natural Resource Planning introduces an iterative planning process with five steps and two ongoing processes. Suitable for any type of planning setting, the book describes each step of the planning process in extensive practical detail. Comprising field-tested strategies woven into a comprehensive and complete protocol, the book explores:
- Planners and the planning process
- Establishing the decision context, gathering evidence, plan formulation, and evaluating, comparing, and selecting plans
- The importance of public involvement
- Telling your story so that people understand and care about it
- Dealing effectively with uncertainty as part of the planning process
- Scenario planning when uncertainty obscures the future
- Economics for planners: cost estimates and economic analysis
- Fast planning and getting the most out of your planning process
- Practical tips from experienced natural resource planners
Natural resources planning involves solving complex problems. Fascinating new issues continue to emerge as we seek to identify and preserve natural DNA, struggle with invasive and nonindigenous species, and worry about the well-being of native and managed pollinators. Meanwhile, we continue to struggle with familiar problems like water quality, developing resources for wise uses, loss of habitat, and floods, hurricanes, and other natural disasters. This volume will empower both experienced and new planners to plan more effectively for solutions to preserve and manage our natural resources.
Envisioning the Future
Uncertainty
Natural Resources
Planning Is …
Organization of This Book
Take Aways
A Team Sport
Who Needs to Plan?
Planning is Done in Teams
What Does a Team Look Like?
Stages of a Team
Team Processes
Team Member Roles
What Does a Team Do?
Take Aways
The Planning Process
What Makes a Good Process?
Steps and Iterations
Examples of Planning Processes
Five by Two
Here’s How It Works
Risk-Informed Planning
What Do You Do with the Process?
Take Aways
Establish the Decision Context
Problem (and Opportunity) Identification
Without Condition Scenario
Objectives and Constraints
Decision Criteria
Information Needs
Uncertainty
Six Pieces of Paper
Take Aways
Addendum 1: Cause and Effect Diagrams and Problem Identification
Techniques
Gather Evidence
Introduction
Evidence-Based Decision Making Under Uncertainty
Evidence
Analysis
Scenarios
Take Aways
Formulate Solutions
Introduction
Pep Talk: Break Rules and Be Creative
The Language of Formulation
Formulation Strategies
Formulating for Uncertainty
Take Aways
Evaluate Solutions
What Is Evaluation, and Why Do We Do It?
How to Evaluate Plans
Take Aways
Compare Solutions
Comparing in Planning
How to Compare?
Take Aways
Make a Decision
The Decision
Who and How?
Making the Decision: Selecting a Solution
Risk-Based Decision-Making Strategies
Take Aways
Addendum 1: Analytical Hierarchy Process
Addendum 2: Decisions with Simple Paired Ranking
Public Involvement
Introduction
What Is It?
Stakeholders
Involve the Public
When to Do Public Involvement?
Take Aways
Tell Your Story
Elements of a Good Story
Write Simply
Graphics
Documentation
Take Aways
Uncertainty
Introduction
Distinguishing Knowledge Uncertainty and Variability?
Types of Uncertainty
Quantity Uncertainty
Sources of Uncertainty in Empirical Quantities
Uncertainty Causes Risk
Being Intentional about Uncertainty in the Planning Process
Take Aways
Scenario Planning
Introduction
Scenario-Planning Background
A Scenario-Planning Process
Addressing Uncertainty in the Without Condition(s)
Other Planning Tasks in Scenario Planning
Take Aways
Addendum: Drivers and Forces
Economics for Planners
Economic Principles
Cost Concepts
Uncertainty in Cost Estimates
Sorting Out the Costs of Multipurpose Plans
Types of Economic Analysis
Take Aways
Fast Planning
Introduction
Why Plan Faster?
Fast Track: A 30-Day Process
Five-Day Iteration
25 Days of Satisficing through Science
Risk Register
In the End
Take Aways
Addendum: SMART Planning
Practical Tips
Introduction
Seeing is Believing
Let’s Spend Some Time Together
The 72-Hour Iteration (3 in 30)
Take Time to Think
Listen to Your Elders
Lists Are Your Friends
Know the Relevant Policies
Be True to Your Profession
Gain Experience
Planning and Politics
Communicate and Network (P.S. Be Careful of What You Say)
Write As You Go
Take Aways
Index
Biography
Charles Yoe is a professor of economics at Notre Dame of Maryland University and an independent risk analysis consultant, but at heart he is a planner and educator. He began his planning career with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and has since worked with a number of U.S. and other government agencies as a planner, consultant, risk analyst, and trainer in a wide range of areas touching natural resources that include food and feed, natural disasters, public works infrastructure, homeland security, ecosystem restoration, resource development, biotechnology in crops, all manner of water resources, ecosystem services, and the like.
