Temperate
RainforestsTemperate
Rainforests
the
world. They support a complex and interconnected web of life that encompasses
a tremendous diversity of biota, including humans. We strove to understand
how to understand such ecosystems, using contemporary information-gathering
tools and approaches. We looked at the social forces that affect
these unique resources via the methodology of public policy analysis.
Our focus was twofold. We worked to understand the ecology of temperate rainforests, with a concentration on the regional ecosystems of the Olympic Peninsula. Second, we studied the process of policy formation and analysis in order to understand the forces that shape human claims on the peninsula’s forests. We conducted original research on snag density in forested regions and compiled the data into a comprehensive report. We gathered and interpreted information concerning the social and cultural aspects of temperate rainforests, particularly the use of forest products and the public policy behind decisions that affect,temperate rainforest management.
Skill-building workshops included plant identification, field ecological techniques for vegetation classification, public policy analysis, and the use of computers for bibliographic searches and information retrieval. We also exchanged information and ideas outside of class time using e-mail and Internet based conferencing software. Optional sessions on creating web pages on the Internet were also accomplished.
Students took two field trips to the Olympic Peninsula to gather
primary information on
ecological and human aspects of temperate rainforests. The
second one was done
independently by smaller student teams. Appreciation of the
aesthetic aspects of rainforests was fostered through art, photographic
images, an aerial flight, and river raft trip. Students kept journals
that chronicled significant insights, and sketchbooks that fostered personal
close observations and aesthetic explorations. Knowledgeable professionals
from a number of different fields also lectured as guests adding new and
different perspectives about the forest.
After data analysis and synthesis, we held a student organized and
moderated three-day
mock hearing on the practice of Salvage Timber Harvesting on the Olympic
Peninsula. Teams of two researched and represented key constituent
groups with a stake in the health of the peninsula’s ecology and communities.
Reports, testimony, and recommendations were presented. The drafting
of a joint resolution on the issue by all of the groups was also done in
order to explore the difficulties and rewards of consensus building.
All reports, policy memoranda and resolutions were placed on the program’s
web page. Final recommendations were prepared by a student panel who also
represented individuals with specialized knowledge.
Portfolios
Evaluation