Natural Resource Policy
Natural resource policies provide the foundation for sustainable resource use, management, and protection. Natural Resource Policy blends policy processes, history, institutions, and current events to analyze sustainable development of natural resources. The book’s detailed coverage explores the market and political allocation and management of natural resources for human benefits, as well as their contributions for environmental services. Wise natural resource policies that promote sustainable development, not senseless exploitation, promise to improve our quality of life and the environment.
Public or private policies may be used to manage natural resources. When private markets are inadequate due to public goods or market failure, many policy options, including regulations, education, incentives, government ownership, and hybrid public/private policy instruments may be crafted by policy makers. Whether a policy is intended to promote intensive management of natural resources to enhance sustained yield or to restore degraded conditions to a more socially desirable state, this comprehensive guide outlines the ways in which natural resource managers can use their technical skills within existing administrative and legal frameworks to implement or influence policy.
“A very well-written, detailed text that is very suitable for the undergrad natural resources Policy and Law class.” — Thomas Ochuodho, University of Kentucky
“Very in-depth discussion of policy and law related to forestry. Nice to have a book that is up to date and affordable!” — Todd Bates, Grays Harbor College
“The authors adroitly synthesize a great deal of material and ground it in history because, overall, they are looking at the evolution of institutions and processes.” — Forest History Today
"Keeping textbooks current is difficult at best. Natural Resource Policy, on the other hand, not only covers all necessary topics, but in the same order as my course outline." — Bruce Steele, North Dakota State University
“This looks like an excellent text for a natural resource policy course. I especially like the chapters devoted to relevant subjects like ethics, interest groups, the media, and partnerships. These are subjects that might normally escape treatment in a traditional policy course but are undeniably part of policy development and implementation.” — David Kittredge, University of Massachusetts
1. Natural Resource Management and Policy
Introduction / Natural Resources in the 21st Century / Natural Resources and Policy
2. Policy and Political Processes
Objectives of Natural Resource Policy / Policy Components / Alternative Approaches to the Study of Natural Resource Policy / Analysis of Policy Processes / Summary
3. Policy Issues, Agendas, and Formulation
Problems and Issues / Agendas and Issue Expansion / Policy Formulation and Adoption / Summary
4. Policy Analysis and Criteria for Decisions
Integrating Policy Analysis and Criteria / Ecological Criteria / Economic Criteria / Social Criteria / Criteria Integration / Summary
5. Policy Implementation, Evaluation, and Monitoring
Implementation / Monitoring and Evaluation / Summary
6. Environmental Ethics and Professionalism
Environmentalism and Conservation / Conservation Ethics / Professionalism / Integrating Personal, Environmental, and Professional Ethics / Summary
7. The Legislature
Legislative Powers / Legislative Limitations / Legislative Process / Legislative Organization / Summary
8. The Executive Branch
Executive Powers / Limitations / The Bureaucracy / Summary
9. The Judiciary
Judicial Powers / Standing to Sue / Judicial Structure / Judicial Actions / Merits of Courts / Summary
10. Interest Groups and the Media
Interest Groups / Mass Media / Summary
11. Policy Instruments for Natural Resource Management and Protection
Markets and Government / Policy Determinants and Values / Policy Approaches / Policy Instruments / Conclusions / Summary
12. Public Lands
Public Land Ownership and Its Implications / History of US Public Land Policy / US Department of Agriculture Agencies / US Department of the Interior / Other Federal Land Management Agencies / Special Federal Land Designations / State and Local Government Lands / Global Perspective on Public Lands / Summary
13. Land Use Regulation and Environmental Protection
Early Forest and Environmental Policy / Property Rights, Takings, and Eminent Domain / Federal Environmental Legislation / State Environmental and Forestry Laws / Summary
14. Wildlife Management Policy
International Wildlife Policy / National Wildlife Policy / State Wildlife Policy / Municipal Wildlife Policy / Summary
15. Financial Assistance and Market Instruments for Natural Resource Conservation
Economic Policy Instruments / Financial Incentives / Tax Incentives / Program Summaries and Evaluations / Technical Assistance and Protection / Other Financial Incentives / Research and Education / Market Instruments / Summary
16. Natural Resource Participation, Collaboration, and Partnerships
Origins of Public Involvement and Participation / Policies for Public Participation in Federal Government Decisions / Environmental, Natural Resource, and Land Management Policies with Public Participation Requirements / Conflicts and Conflict Management / Collaboration and Partnerships / Merits and Drawbacks of Public Participation, Collaboration, and Partnerships / Summary