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

Browse

Now showing 1 - 20 of 437

Open Access
1997 Ecosystem Workforce Project Curriculum : A practical learning and resource guide for forest/ecosystem workers
(Ecosystem Workforce Program, Institute for a Sustainable Environment, University of Oregon, 1997-07) Ecosystem Workforce Development Curriculum Team
The goal of this curriculum is to create an educational resource that is practical, flexible, and helpful to hard-working, dedicated, lifelong learners in the forest/ecosystem management industry. We recognize that while forest workers have lots of skills to share, they must also be continually updating and diversifying their skills to be competitive and competent in this evolving industry. As such, we have created a curriculum that has three core topic areas: • Science for Ecosystem Restoration and Enhancement • Technical and Safety Knowledge for Ecosystem Restoration and Enhancement • Business Development and Management for Ecosystem Restoration and Enhancement
Open Access
Abrupt Climate Change and the Economy: A survey with application to Oregon
(Resource Innovations, Institute for a Sustainable Environment, University of Oregon, 2006) Climate Leadership Initiative; Goodstein, Eban S., 1960-; Doppelt, Bob
The general warming of the Earth that is expected over the next century will have serious economic consequences for humans and natural ecosystems across the world. The Pacific Northwest is already experiencing adverse affects and more are likely the warmer it gets. [Resource Innovations (2005)] This will be true even if warming proceeds gradually. Globally, temperatures are expected to rise between 1◦ and 5◦ c (2◦-10◦ F) over the next hundred years. [IPCC (2001)] Regional warming is expected to be 5.4 ◦ F by mid-century. [Institute of Natural Resources (2004)] To put these numbers in perspective, during the last Ice Age, global temperatures averaged 9◦ F cooler than today, so a mid-range warming will approach a swing in global temperatures of Ice Age magnitude, only in the opposite direction. In Oregon, the most visible short run impacts will be felt through loss of snowpack and dramatic reductions in summer water supply for agriculture, and municipal and in-stream uses, as well as through sea level rise, and forest impacts. [Resource Innovations (2005)] This paper sketches the possibilities for more abrupt changes in the climate system, which would have potentially catastrophic impacts for the Oregon’s economy, and evaluates insurance motives for reducing global warming emissions in the state.
Open Access
Accomplishing collaborative, landscape-scale restoration on forests without CFLRP or Joint Chiefs' projects
(Ecosystem Workforce Program, Institute for a Sustainable Environment, University of Oregon, 2018) Ellison, Autumn; Coughlan, Michael R.; Kooistra, Chad; Schultz, Courtney A.
Over the last decade, the U.S. Forest Service has been implementing a series of new initiatives designed to accelerate cross-boundary, collaborative, integrated restoration. Many national forests have applied for and been awarded funding for projects under competitive funding initiatives, like the Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Program (CFLRP) and the Joint Chiefs’ Landscape Restoration Partnership (Joint Chiefs’), which are represented on the majority of national forests. However, some forests have not had projects under these initiatives. Along with our prior research investigating the CFLRP and Joint Chiefs’, we were also interested in understanding how forests that have not participated in either of these initiatives conceptualized, planned for, and engaged in collaborative, landscape-scale restoration efforts. We identified forests that did not have CFLRP or Joint Chiefs’ projects and randomly selected three from each region to contact for interviews. We conducted 29 interviews with 37 people, including Forest Service personnel and external collaborative partners, on 18 national forests.
Open Access
Administrative and judicial review of NEPA decisions : risk factors and risk minimizing strategies for the Forest Service
(Ecosystem Workforce Program, Institute for a Sustainable Environment, University of Oregon, 2016) Bixler, Audrey; Bixler, R. Patrick (Richard Patrick); Ellison, Autumn; Moseley, Cassandra
In this synthesis and annotated bibliography, we seek to develop a more comprehensive understanding of the factors that influence NEPA challenge risks and successes in order to inform and guide resource managers within the Forest Service and other land management agencies, collaborators, practitioners, and contractors as they participate in the NEPA process.
Open Access
Adopting stewardship contracting : lessons from four national forests
(Ecosystem Workforce Program, Institute for a Sustainable Environment, University of Oregon, 2011) Moseley, Cassandra; Donoghue, Ellen M. (Ellen Mary); Charnley, Susan; MacFarland, Kate
Congress granted broad stewardship contracting authority to the Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management in the FY 2003 appropriations act to help these agencies accomplish restoration and hazardous fuels reduction and increase community benefit from these activities. During the first several years of the authority, the use of stewardship contracting was uneven, with some national forests making significant use of the authorities while others hardly used stewardship contracting at all. Although the stewardship contracting has become more wide spread in recent years, it is not clear why some national forests were early adopters and others were more hesitant to use the authorities. This study provides insight into the question of why the use of stewardship contracting was initially so variable.
Open Access
Advancing Oregon’s sustainability agenda: the role of the ecosystem management industry in achieving sustainability--ecological, social and economic, April 26-27, 2001, Pendleton Oregon
(Ecosystem Workforce Program, Institute for a Sustainable Environment, University of Oregon, 2001) University of Oregon. Ecosystem Workforce Program. Forum
The 2001 Ecosystem Workforce Program’s Annual Forum was held in Pendleton OR April 26th and 27th. The focus of this year’s forum was to share knowledge and examples of the ongoing efforts of the ecosystem management industry’s crucial role in advancing Oregon’s sustainability agenda. Over 70 practitioners and natural resource agency representatives took part in the two-day meeting. The following summaries offer a brief outline of those presentations and discussions which captured the forum’s focus. The concluding section is a report of suggestions forum participants offered as the next steps for the Ecosystem Workforce Taskforce to consider. The Task Force is a group convened by the Oregon Community and Economic Development Department to explore opportunities for linking sustainable natural resource goals and sustainable community objectives. Contact information for forum presenters is listed in this last section.
Open Access
Advancing rural conservation-based economic development : framing our community in Elk City, ID
(Ecosystem Workforce Program, Institute for a Sustainable Environment, University of Oregon, 2016) Ellison, Autumn; Davis, Emily Jane
Across the U.S. West, many rural communities adjacent to publicly owned federal lands have been greatly affected by changes to federal land management policies and by economic restructuring of the wood products industry. In the late 1980s through the early 2000s, federal forest policy changes led to reductions in both federal timber harvests and timber industry employment. At the same time, a combination of industry competition, automation, and relocation created additional uncertainty in communities traditionally dependent upon wood products employment. Elk City, Idaho, like many other communities surrounded by large tracts of federal land across the West, was profoundly affected by these changes. In 1999, local leaders and citizens founded a community-based organization called Framing Our Community to help the community navigate this transition while maintaining ties to natural resource activities and employment. Like other community-based organizations, Framing Our Community works with multiple public, private, and non-profit entities at multiple scales to facilitate sustainable natural resource-based economic development at the local community level. This Fact Sheet documents the origins of Framing Our Community and illustrates how the organization has helped to foster conservation-based economic development in Elk City and beyond.
Open Access
An analysis of forest service and BLM contracting and contractor capacity in Lake County, Oregon: 1994-1999
(Sustainable Northwest, 2001-07) Kauffman, Marcus; Sustainable Northwest (Organization)
This document examines the federal contracting sector in Lake County, considering both the federal land management agencies’ demand for services and the capacity of local contracting firms to carry out the work. It is hoped that this information will aid the development of a highskill high-wage contracting sector in the county. This report analyzes contracts awarded by the Fremont National Forest and the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) Lakeview District between 1994 and 1999. It also examines the capacity of 17 contracting firms in Lake County. This assessment seeks to: 1) quantify the Forest Service and BLM demand for contracted services in Lake County; 2) determine how much and what types of work were awarded to contracting firms located within Lake County and Bly from 1994-1999; 3) gauge the capacity of the local contractors to provide the services sought by the federal agencies; 4) offer recommendations to help increase the competitiveness of local firms and make federal contracts more attractive to local firms.
Open Access
Annotated bibliography : Social vulnerability and wildfire in the wildland-urban interface
(Ecosystem Workforce Program, Institute for a Sustainable Environment, University of Oregon, 2019) Cavanaugh, Alexander H., 1988-; Coughlan, Michael R.
Annotated bibliography for Ecosystem Workforce Program Working Paper #96: Social vulnerability and wildfire in the wildland-urban interface : literature synthesis.
Open Access
Annotated Bibliography of Biomass Issues Literature
(Ecosystem Workforce Program, Institute for a Sustainable Environment, University of Oregon, 2009) Turnoy, Scott; Nielsen-Pincus, Max
Open Access
Annual report 2004
(University of Oregon, Institute for a Sustainable Environment, Resource Innovations, 2005-03-01) University of Oregon. Institute for a Sustainable Environment. Resource Innovations
Open Access
Appendices for: Ecosystem Workforce Program Working Paper #91: Monitoring investments in Oregon's Federal Forest Restoration Program, FY 2014-2019
(Ecosystem Workforce Program, Institute for a Sustainable Environment, University of Oregon, 2019) Santo, Anna; Huber-Stearns, Heidi; Davis, Emily Jane; University of Idaho. College of Natural Resources. Policy Analysis Group
The following appendices provide supporting detail about information that was included in Ecosystem Workforce Program Working Paper #91, Monitoring Investments in Oregon’s Federal Forest Restoration Program, FY2014-FY2019. Appendix A: Stakeholder Interview Questions. Appendix B: Additional supplemental economic analyses. Appendix C: State-Federal Implementation Partnership (SFIP) agreement amounts and awardees FY14-19. Appendix D: Technical Assistance and Science Support (TASS) agreement amounts and awardees FY14-19. Appendix E: Collaborative Capacity Grant Amounts and Awardees, FY14-19. Appendix F: Project Management Investments Amounts and Awardees, FY14-19.
Open Access
Appendices for: Strategies for increasing prescribed fire application on federal lands : lessons from case studies in the U.S. West
(Ecosystem Workforce Program, Institute for a Sustainable Environment, University of Oregon, 2020) Schultz, Courtney A.; Santo, Anna; Huber-Stearns, Heidi; McCaffrey, Sarah
Case study details for Strategies for increasing prescribed fire application on federal lands : lessons from case studies in the U.S. West. Appendix A: The San Juan National Forest. Appendix B: The BLM Socorro Field Office & Cibola National Forest. Appendix C: The Sierra National Forest. Appendix D: The Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest.
Open Access
Application of the forest restoration and utilization calculator : economic effects from potential forest management in Jackson County, OR
(Ecosystem Workforce Program, Institute for a Sustainable Environment, University of Oregon, 2015) White, Eric M.; Bennett, Drew E.
Forest management to achieve ecological objectives can also create desirable social and economic outcomes in local communities. We developed the Forest Restoration and Utilization Calculator to estimate the economic effects of forest management in Oregon. We used the calculator to explore potential economic effects from a federal forest management project in Jackson County, Oregon. Forest management projects often include a mix of commercial timber harvest and non-commercial forest and watershed treatments, such as thinning and piling of fuels. We tested a hypothetical forest project in Jackson County that included a mix of commercial timber harvest and non-commercial fuels reduction activities using local information on typical forest treatments, stand characteristics, and implementation costs.
Open Access
Assessing collaborative opportunities on the Willamette National Forest
(Ecosystem Workforce Program, Institute for a Sustainable Environment, University of Oregon, 2012) Davis, Emily Jane; Moseley, Cassandra
Leaders on the Willamette National Forest (WNF) in western Oregon and adjacent communities are interested in using collaborative approaches to steward public lands and create community benefits. WNF leadership asked the Ecosystem Workforce Program and the University of Oregon to conduct an assessment of collaborative capacity and opportunities. This assessment is based on information gathered between May 2011 and February 2012. As such, it is a “snapshot” of collaborative activity and capacity at that time, and may not fully capture the dynamic, evolving nature of what is happening on the WNF.
Open Access
Assessing policy impacts on natural resource businesses : a review of research methods
(Ecosystem Workforce Program, Institute for a Sustainable Environment, University of Oregon, 2016) Fenster, Emily; Abrams, Jesse; Moseley, Cassandra; Becker, Dennis R.
The purpose of this working paper is to review research methods used to assess the influence of public policies on natural resource business decision-making. We describe a suite of research methods that have been used to assess policy impacts on businesses, highlighting their analytical advantages and disadvantages. We emphasize natural resource policies and businesses in our review, but also present literature from other fields as relevant. With this review we attempt to contribute to a greater ability to conduct evaluation for policies and programs targeting natural resource firms.
Open Access
Assessment of early implementation of the US Forest Service's shared stewardship strategy
(Ecosystem Workforce Program, Institute for a Sustainable Environment, University of Oregon, 2021) Kooistra, Chad; Schultz, Courtney A.; Huber-Stearns, Heidi; Abrams, Jesse; Greiner, Michelle; Sinkular, Emily
In 2018, in response to calls from Congress to accelerate cross-boundary fire hazard reduction and improve forest resilience, the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) published the Shared Stewardship Strategy (USFS 2018). The document emphasizes partnership with the states, Tribes, and collaborative partners in order to identify priority areas for management, coordinate work across jurisdictions, and leverage diverse capacities. In 2019, Colorado State University entered into a challenge cost-share agreement with USFS State and Private Forestry to conduct independent research on the implementation and development of Shared Stewardship efforts. The first phase of our work took place in 2020, when we interviewed agency and state employees and representatives of partner organizations in states in the West that had signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the USFS to formally pursue Shared Stewardship. Our primary goal was to understand the main factors affecting the early stages of Shared Stewardship efforts across these states, including key actors’ perspectives on the Strategy and early planning and development efforts, primary opportunities and challenges, and the types of capacities, mechanisms, and direction needed to move ahead successfully with partnerships and Shared Stewardship implementation.
Open Access
An assessment of federal restoration contracting and contractor capacity in northeastern Oregon
(Ecosystem Workforce Program, Institute for a Sustainable Environment, University of Oregon, 2015) Ellison, Autumn; Bennett, Drew E.; Knapp, Melanie; White, Eric M.; Davis, Emily Jane; Moseley, Cassandra
An accelerated pace and scale of forest restoration on Oregon’s eastside national forests will rely heavily on the ability of contractors to both implement forest treatments and contribute to environmental planning activities. Private businesses commonly are contracted to implement already-planned restoration work on Forest Service land. . . . Recently, within Oregon, private businesses, state agencies, and non-governmental partners have also begun playing a role in pre-implementation restoration activities. . . . For this report, we used past Forest Service restoration contracting data, records of grants and agreements to Forest Service partners for activities related to restoration, and contractor interviews to better understand how the Forest Service works with local businesses and partners in all aspects of forest restoration efforts. We also used these data to understand the capacity of the local restoration contractor workforce to carryout accelerated restoration work.
Open Access
Assessment of water leasing activities in Washington State
(Center for Watershed and Community Health, Mark O. Hatfield School of Government, Portland State University, 2001-11-01)
The State of Washington faced a record drought situation for the 2001 water year. The opportunity to lease water from current water right holders for the purpose of enhancing instream flows to improve conditions for fish were constrained by the drought. Water leasing activities conducted by the Washington Department of Ecology (WDOE), the Roza Irrigation District, and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) will be discussed here.
Open Access
Bad goat, good business : byproducts bring big gains for watershed restoration
(Ecosystem Workforce Program, Institute for a Sustainable Environment, University of Oregon, 2013) University of Oregon. Ecosystem Workforce Program
Restoration contractors in western Montana are fostering ecosystem services on private lands while offering a variety of services to landowners. One such business, Watershed Consulting, LLC, has developed a successful business model that centers on the provision of ecological expertise and highly skilled work across the watershed in forest, range, and riparian land types. Watershed Consulting also markets wood harvested during restoration projects, through Bad Goat Forest Products, LLC. Selling these sustainably harvested wood products in niche markets, or working with landowners to utilize their own wood in building projects, can be seen as an embedded payment for ecosystem services, especially if they garner market share or a premium price because of the ecosystem values associated with the wood.