Institute for Resilient Organizations, Communities, and Environments (IROCE)

Permanent URI for this community

https://hdl.handle.net/1794/13125

The Institute for Resilient Organizations, Communities, and Environments (IROCE) at the University of Oregon links, leverages, and aligns applied social science research and resources to help organizations and communities adapt and thrive in the face of adversity.

Note: The organization was formerly known as The Institute for a Sustainable Environment

For more information, visit the web site at: https://resilient.uoregon.edu

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Browsing Institute for Resilient Organizations, Communities, and Environments (IROCE) by Author "Almquist, Bill"

Now showing 1 - 3 of 3
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    Climate change communications
    (Community Planning Workshop, Community Service Center, University of Oregon, 2005-05) Potasnik, Rebeca; Almquist, Bill; Bodane, Kate; Johnson, Bethany; White, Linda; Bowles, Greg
    In winter 2005, Resource Innovations initiated a project designed to identify the most effective means to communicate with local populations about climate change. The project is intended to identify speakers and messages that will resonate with Lane County residents as well as business, civic, and government leaders to help them understand what climate change is, what the impacts may be, and what can be done about it. Specifically, the project aims to identify effective language and communication styles as well as who should carry them. Resource Innovations contracted with Community Planning Workshop (CPW) at the University of Oregon to conduct four focus groups in Lane County, Oregon as part of the first phase of this project. Focus group populations included: residents of South Eugene, residents of Cottage Grove, business leaders from Eugene, and business leaders from Springfield and rural Lane County. The focus group discussions centered on four communication issues related to climate change: (1) Issue Framing; (2) Communications Channels; (3) Motivation and Behavior Modification; and (4) Local Government Roles. Focus groups were held in a casual environment, and participants were encouraged to speak their minds openly on the various issues and questions presented.
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    An inventory and analysis of biomass utilization efforts in southwestern Oregon
    (Resource Innovations, Institute for a Sustainable Environment, University of Oregon, 2005-09) Almquist, Bill
    This report aims to help communities and JCIFP partners by cataloguing and describing local efforts, presenting case studies of activities underway in other parts of Oregon and around the country, and providing recommendations on how to further proceed with woody biomass utilization efforts. The goal of this report is to assist partners and community members to make informed decisions about the types of uses to promote, potential groups to partner with, and other strategies for biomass utilization. This report is organized in four sections. Section One introduces the issues involved with biomass utilization, the different types and scales of utilization, and the most pertinent policies and reports. Section Two provides a summary of groups involved with biomass utilization in southwestern Oregon and presents findings from the analysis of those groups. Section Three discusses some of the implications of those findings and provides recommendations to JCIFP partners on possible next steps. Section Four presents case studies of efforts underway in other parts of the west that may be of significant interest to JCIFP partners and others interested utilizing biomass in the region.
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    Josephine County Integrated Fire Plan lessons learned: wildfire risk assessment
    (Resource Innovations, Institute for a Sustainable Environment, University of Oregon, 2005-07) Almquist, Bill
    This paper evaluates the JCIFP risk assessment process using information gathered from interviews conducted in February and March 2005 with members of the Risk Assessment Committee. This report is intended to assist other communities in developing wildfire risk assessments by shedding light on the Josephine County experience, as well as provide Josephine County with lessons learned that can be applied to the implementation of the fire plan and monitoring of the risk assessment over time. The paper provides an overview of the relevant policies, factors and events that have led to the development of the JCIFP. Section Two provides important definitions, a detailed methodology, and the results obtained. Section Three reports on the successes and challenges of the risk assessment and collaborative process perceived by members of the Risk Assessment Committee. The final section discusses conclusions and future implications for the risk assessment as it has been carried out in Josephine County, as well as opportunities this experience may have for other communities developing fire plans.