Discussion of national park standards for management, conservation, and funding. Students are presented with materials that describe how the federal system work ... more

Discussion of national park standards for management, conservation, and funding. Students are presented with materials that describe how the federal system works, and national statistics on use, management, and operations. Information on Joshua Tree National Park is provided, that describes the opportunities and challenges in running a national park and how to develop and maintain sustainable programs that foster principles of stewardship, conservation, and multiple-uses. Students are provided a two-hour bus tour of Joshua Tree National Park. Presentations on the natural history of the park is provided, along with a discussion of biogeography, influences of invasives species, climate change, and wildland fires. Students are shown areas of anthropogenic impacts that include physical changes to the natural environment, invasive species, and air quality. Additional discussion of historic and cultural resources is provided. Students are provided information on current and pending legislation in the Senate aimed at addressing fundamental concerns over energy development, conservation, development, and recreation of our desert ecossytems. This includes both a legislative/policy analysis, and a pragmatic, real world discussion of how we bring together diverse perspectives, agendas, and competing interest to accomplish a sustainable plan for a large region. Students are provided with a description of the Desert Renewables program, as designed and implemented by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management. This includes a discussion of the process of developing the program, constraints to implementation, and institutional hurdles that exist. Students are asked to think about renewable energy in a different way. They are walked through a series of case studies that question the "status quo" in renewable energy projects, with an emphasis on developing systems that are compatible with natural areas, habitat, and agricultural areas. Students are presented information on how transmission lines and infrastructure for energy projects are designed, sited, and installed, including discusison of interconnection standards, renewable energy projects, and institutional hurdles from federal and state laws. Students are presented with a broad discussion on ecosystem and habitat conservation planning, and how the theory of biogeography drives modern programs. This includes a discusison of wildlife movement, corridors, and connectivity, and how to identify, prioritize, and develop large-scale conservation programs. Students are provided with a three-part instructional activity that addresses how we develop large-scale energy projects, and how we can balance ecological and environmental concerns, community needs and priorities, and economic propserity and growth. Students are provided with three perspectives, including a pure-ecology/conservation perspective of energy development, and case studies for regional and local planning processes.

Instructors:

Matt Rahn