FNR 4660C Natural Resource Policy and Administration
Fall 2008, Section 7002, 3 credits
School of Forest Resources & Conservation/IFAS/University of Florida

Course objectives	Assignments	Grading
Course Readings	Study questions EXAM 1 (not yet  posted) Study questions EXAM 2 (not yet  posted) STUDY QUESTIONS - EXAM 3 (not yet  posted)	Class Notes & Schedule
Course Structure	Readings	Resource links & policy news

Website http://www.sfrc.ufl.edu/Class/fnr4660c

Syllabus

Location & Time:
112 Newins-Ziegler Hall; Tuesday 11:45 am - 1:40 pm; Thursday 12:50 noon – 1:40 pm

Instructor: Jean-Gael “GJ” Emptaz-Collomb 352 Newins-Ziegler Hall  School of Forest Resources and Conservation, University of Florida  Phone: 352-846-0547, Email: jg@ufl.edu Office hours:  Tuesday 2-4pm; Thursday 10:30-12:30pm OR make an appointment

Teaching Assistant: Ilan Kaufer 374 Newins-Ziegler Hall Email:    ilan@ufl.edu               Office hours: Tuesdays 4-5pm                      Wednesdays 3:30-5pm

Course objectives
Forests and other natural resources serve many social, economic, and environmental needs of people around the world. The patterns of use and management of natural resources can have a profound impact on the economy and the environment. However, public policies largely dictate the patterns of use and management of natural resources thereby influencing the lives of diverse stakeholders including future generations. Therefore, it is critical for resource professionals to understand concepts, evolution, administration, and impacts of resource policies. The course objectives are to:
    •    Further your knowledge of public policy process
    •    Develop an understanding of concepts and theories of public policy
    •    Advance your ability to assess resource policy issues from environmental, economic, and social perspectives

At the completion of the course, the student will be able to:
    1) Identify key elements and characteristics of a public policy
    2) Understand the dynamics of resource policy development
    3) Assess factors that influence the success of resource policy implementation
    4) Develop a policy position paper with science as the basis as opposed to opinions
    5) Evaluate a resource policy by applying ecological, economic, social, and political criteria.

Course readings
A set of readings is compiled as a course packet. Students are strongly encouraged to purchase the course packet, however, if this is an issue, please come see me (we may be able to loan spare copies of the course packet for a few hours at a time). Readings will reinforce and supplement the concepts introduced in lectures. Students are required to complete the readings. Additional readings will be distributed in class if necessary. Guest lectures will be arranged on selected natural resource issues.

The following references were used to compile the course packet:

Anderson, S.H. 2000. The evolution of the Endangered Species Act. In Shogren, J.F. "Private property and the Endangered Species Act". University of Texas Press, Austin.

Bardach, E. 2000. A practical guide for policy analysis: The eighth fold path to more effective problem solving. Chatham House Publishers, New York.

Cubbage, F.W, J. O'Laughlin, and C.S. Bullock III.1993. Forest resource policy. John Wiley & Sons, New York.

Ellefson, P.V. 1992. Forest resource policy: Process, participants, and programs. McGraw-Hill, INC. New York.

Feldman, M.D. and M.J. Brennan 2000. Judicial application of the Endangered Species Act and the implications for takings of protected species and private property. In Shogren, J.F. "Private property and the Endangered Species Act". University of Texas Press, Austin.

Peterson, E.W.F. 2001. The Political economy of agricultural, natural resource, and environmental policy analysis. Iowa State University Press, Ames.

Weyerhaeuser, R. and J.W. Giltmier 1997. Forest management and policy in the U.S.: A historical Perspective. In: Sample, V.A. et al. "Evolving toward sustainable forestry: Assessing change in U.S. forestry organizations". Pinchot Institute for Conservation, Washington, D.C.

Course structure
Assignments:
There will be 5 short assignments. In fairness to those who turn in their assignments on time, late work will be penalized @ 5% per late day (including weekends). More details of each assignment will be posted on this class website as we move forward (hence, some of the links below may be inactive).
Assignment 1: Policy elements, characteristics, and development criteria within the context of a congressional bill (Due on Sep. 18 - worth 10%)
Assignment 2: Policy debate and policy position paper (GUIDE LINES FOR PAPER) (Debates held on Oct. 7 & Oct. 14; papers due Oct. 21 - worth 10%)
Assignment 3: Policy development - a play (Nov. 18 & 25 - worth 5%)
Assignment 4: Public meeting paper (Due Dec. 2 - worth 5%)
Assignment 5: Policy critique paper (Due Dec. 9 - worth 10%)

Class Attendance and Participation (CAP) is required and (worth 5%). Surprise discussions/exercises/quizzes will be organized in the class. If you do not attend to and participate in them, you will not receive any grade. Please let me know in advance if you are going to miss a class due to any “legitimate” reason.

Examinations:

Exam I: October 2 (worth 15%).
Exam II: November 13 (worth 20%)
Exam III: Dec. 9th (worth 20%).

Grading
90 and above A; 85 to <90 B+; 80 to <85 B; 75 to <80 C+; 70 to <75 C

Class schedule

This lecture schedule is tentative and may shift depending on how fast we go in class. Reading assignments are from the course packet, unless otherwise noted. Links to download class notes will become active after class is held. Lecture notes are not meant to replace lecture attendance.

DATE	TOPIC	READING	NOTES
Resource policy definition, process, and analytical framework
26-Aug	Introduction Resource Policy Definition	Ellefson 1992 pages 5-11	Notes 1
28-Aug	Valuing and categorizing goods		Notes 2
2-Sep	Collective Action	Peterson 2001 pages 23-30	Notes 3
4-Sep	The Study of Policy (part 1)	Cubbage et al. 1993 pages 31-49	Notes 4a
9-Sep	The Study of Policy (part 2) Policy Issues and Formulation	Ellefson 1992 pages 11-19 Cubbage et al. 1993 pages 55-76	Notes 4b Notes 5
11-Sep	Policy Implementation, evaluation and analysis	Cubbage et al. 1993 pages 77-98 + Bardach 2000 pages 103-110	Notes 6
16-Sep	Continue from previous lecture (ctd.)
Role of markets and state in public policy
18-Sep	Welfare economics and the role of state	Peterson 2001, pp. 113-140	Notes 7
23-Sep	ctd.
Political economy of public policies
25-Sep	Public policy theory and pragmatism	Clemons and McBeth 2001	Notes 8
30-Sep	ctd. + REVIEW
2-Oct	Exam 1
7-Oct	Debate
9-Oct	Public choice and political economy	Peterson 2001 pp.141-169	Notes 9
14-Oct	Debate
16-Oct	ctd.
Social justice in public policy
21-Oct	Ethical considerations in public policy	Peterson 2001, pp. 171-195	Notes 10
23-Oct	ctd.
Evolution of selected resource policies in the U.S. and abroad
28-Oct	Forest Management and policy in the U.S.	Weyerhaeuser & Giltmier 1997, pp. 199-210	Notes 11
30-Oct	Ctd + Policy Play Assignment Planning
4-Nov	Evolution of the Endangered Species Act	Anderson 2000, pp. 8-24 + Additional reading	Notes 12
6-Nov	ctd. (+Review if time permits)
11-Nov	NO CLASS
13-Nov	Exam 2
18-Nov	Policy Play
20-Nov	TBD (Guest lecture?)
25-Nov	Policy Play
27-Nov	NO CLASS
2-Dec	Judicial application of the Endangered Species Act	Feldman & Brennan 2000, pp. 25-47	Notes 13
4-Dec	International Conservation Policies		Notes 14
9-Dec	Exam 3

8

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