Community Response to Wildfire Risk in AZ, CO & NMOverviewProfessional ChallengesChallenges…Theories of policy for professionalsPolicy SciencesDecision ProcessCommon InterestProblems with governance?Problem with governance…TrendsGoal:Wildfire as a problem2000 and 2002 Wildfire SeasonsWhy?Fire regimes disturbedProblemDebates: Fuel Reduction PracticesDebates: Insect MortalityDebates: Project SelectionDebates: Project DelaysControversy over NEPAAlternatives to Address ProblemsAlternatives: What Is Being Done?WGA 10-Year PlanWhat are communities doing?How are they doing it?Effective Response = Sound Decision ProcessHow Do Communities Respond?State Level AnalysisInterface Areas of High Risk in ColoradoNFP Funding to AZ, CO & NM FY 2001-2003Hazardous Fuel Reduction in NMHazardous Fuel Reduction in Ruidoso, NMPolicy ResponseDecision Process in RuidosoHazardous Fuel Reduction in Santa Fe, NMPolicy ResponseDecision Process in Santa FeEffective Decision ProcessesRecommendationsAddendumUSFS 2001 ReportGAO 2001 ReportGAO 2003 ReportNAU- Ecological Research InstituteHealthy Forests Restoration Act (2003)Implementation?Community Response to Wildfire Risk in AZ, CO & NMToddi A. Steelman Department of Forest and Environmental ResourcesFunded by USFS Southern Research StationOverviewPolicy SciencesConcept of the Common Interest Decision ProcessWildfire ProblemCommunity Responses to Wildfire RiskProfessional ChallengesThe work of professionals is to apply their special knowledge and skills responsibly in resolving societal problems in the common interestThe more professionals become involved in real world problems, the more socially and politically enlightened they become.The social and political aspects can be the most challenging to solving problemsChallenges…“The significant problems we face cannot be solved at the same level of thinking we were at when we created them” Albert Einstein“The way we see the problem is the problem” Stephen R. Covey“We think in generalities, we live in detail” Alfred North Whitehead“The quickest way of opening the eyes of the people is to find the mans of making them descent to particulars, seeing that to look at things only in a general way deceives them” MachiavelliTheories of policy for professionalsInstitutional Rational Choice (Ostrom) How institutional rules alter behavior of intendedly rational individuals motivated by material self interestMultiple Streams (Kingdon) “garbage can model” of organizational behavior– three streams of actors and processes (problem, policy, politics) intersect in a window of opportunityPunctuated Equilibrium (Baumgartner and Jones) Policy making typified by long periods of incremental change punctuated by brief periods of major policy changeAdvocacy Coalition Framework (Sabatier and Jenkins-Smith) Interaction of advocacy coalitions within a policy subsystem. Policy change is a function of competition within the subsystem and events outside the subsystem.Policy SciencesOldest distinctive tradition within policy movementHarold D. Lasswell (1950s)Contextual, multiple methods and problem oriented with emphasis on human dignity for allFrameworks– theory of processProblem orientationDecision process*Social processDecision ProcessIntelligence—process of obtaining and processing information and giving it to decision makers and othersPromotion—recommending and mobilizing support for policy alternativesPrescription—the activity that establishes the rules by which people live. To prescribe is to clarify and articulate the basic goals and norms, or values, of the communityInvocation—first action taken to invoke, or appeal to, a prescriptionApplication—final characterization of people’s behavior in terms of a prescription in specific situationsAppraisal—assessment of a decision process as a whole and of the success of particular prescription in achieving their goalsTermination—the repeal or large-scale adjustment of a prescription. It involves canceling or succeeding the original prescription.Common InterestThe work of professionals is to apply their special knowledge and skills responsibly in resolving societal problems in the common interestWhat is the common interest?Interests widely shared by members of a communityA special interest is incompatible with the common interestA tentative commitment to the common interest (or some alternative goal) is necessary to provide direction for natural resource policies and governanceProblems with governance?What is or are the problem(s) with governance?What are the current trends with respect to governance?What should our goal be with respect to governance?Problem with governance…Failure to clarify and secure the common interest through specific policiesComplex division of authority and control among numerous parts of the federal government with distinctive mandates and jurisdictions, their counterparts in state and local governments and NGOs that lobby and litigate for particular economic, environmental and other interestsTrendsGridlock, loss of faith in government, demosclerosis, loss of government’s ability to adapt, separation of powers, proliferation of interest groups focus on narrow demands, complex structure of governance, proliferation of substantive and procedural rules and regulationsGoal:Clarifying and securing the common interest, which is consistent with the overall broader goal of human dignity for all.The ideal of human dignity takes into account the entire body politic. It is not a matter of giving a privileged few their freedom, but of striking balance among the claims of all.Wildfire as a problem2000 and 2002 Wildfire SeasonsMost costly in the last 50 years2000 8.4 million acres and $1.3 billion2002 6.9 million acres and $1.6 billion2003 4.9 million acres and $1.3 billion (CA fires)2004 8.1 million acres (6.6m in Alaska) and $ 890 millionWhy?Fire regimes disturbed Frequent, low intensity firesMaintain plant conditionsburn small trees, shrubs leave large treesprevent spread of invasivesReduce buildup of fuelsPrecondition for catastrophic fireProblem History of wildfire suppressionIncreases in population growth in WestIncreased preferences for living in the wildland urban interfaceConsequence: 60-100 million acres and hundreds communities at risk from wildfire threatDebates: Fuel Reduction PracticesMechanical thinningInconclusive in terms of changing wildfire