PRM 401 Natural Resources Protection

Syllabus

General Information:

College of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Department of Geography Planning and Recreation

Course Title/Number:        PRM 401   Natural Resources Protection

Semester Offered:             Spring & Fall

Clock hours                            48

Credit hours                          3

Instructor:                             Kathy Dodd, MS

Office Address:                     Parks and Recreation Management Program, PO Box 15016, Flagstaff, AZ 86011-5018 phone # 928-523-8242, email kathy.Dodd@nau.edu

Office hours:                     Monday through Friday 10AM to 12PM

Course prerequisites:          Concurrent enrollment in PRM 310 and PRM 311 or permission of the instructor

Course description:              This course introduces Federal regulations which provide protection of America’s natural resources.  Evolution and applicability of environmental laws regulating consumptive and non-consumptive uses of plants, wildlife and fish are discussed.

Student Learning Expectations/Outcomes for this Course:   

1)                Identify select Federal natural resource laws that provide protection for fish, wildlife and plants.

2)                Explain the evolution of federal natural resource laws and their applicability to NPA enforcement programs.

3)                Identify levels and complexity of enforcement efforts that should be used to investigate natural resource criminal activities.  

4)                Identify investigative procedures that are beneficial to natural resource case management.

5)                Identify specific types of illegal activities associated with commercialization of protected natural resources.

6)                Explain the negative impacts to the integrity of our ecosystems and native species caused by illegal commercialization of natural resources. 

7)                Identify the series of important dates and events in the development of the cultural resources crime problem.

8)                Define key terms necessary for discussing historic and archeological resources.  Identify the civil and criminal elements of the ARPA.

9)                Describe specific duties and responsibilities of commissioned rangers and archeologists at the crime scene and on the trail.   

Course Structure/ Approach:      Lecture/ Class discussions/ Practical exercises.

Textbook and required materials:       Assigned special readings and Internet research.

Recommended optional materials/references:     These will very depending upon current materials that are related to the above student learning expectations.     

Course outline:

A. Global Conservation Context

To properly understand and forecast emerging threats to U.S. protected areas students require an understanding of issues affecting other nations and the global commons (e.g. the oceans and air).  Information on a range of threats to the commons, such as over fishing of oceans and international air pollution, will demonstrate the complexity and scope of modern resource problems. Similarly, examples of severe resource competition between people and natural systems in developing nations will be used to demonstrate the resource threats likely to arrive in wealthier nations during their lifetimes. 

B. Resource Threats Affecting U.S. Protected Area

This section examines resource risks affecting U.S. National Parks and protected areas in more detail. Focusing on 4 subject areas, this section uses case studies to demonstrate the complex multi-jurisdictional and long term nature of these resource derogation events. These case studies will also discuss the complex fiscal and social motivators for these events. Where appropriate, the competing societal needs (for example property rights and development in view sheds) will also be discussed.

1. Environmental Crimes

This section will discuss the dumping of dangerous materials, pollution of protected area waterways, and the use of refuges for drug production.

2. Natural Resource Crime

This section will discuss the theft of a range of protected area resources to supply growing markets or to meet ego needs of violators.

3. Cultural Resource Crimes

This section will discuss the theft of cultural artifacts to supply growing markets or to meet ego needs of violators. This will cover items of antiquity as well as newer artifacts (such as World War II and terrorism memorialization materials)

4. Trans-boundary Threats

This threat class most commonly involves lawful regulated activities. This session will discuss the needs of protected areas in light of the competing societal interests. Examples include the loss of view sheds to development outside parks, air pollution, the spread of hoof and mouth and competition for water.

The discussion will also include aspects of this threat class which primarily involve unlawful behaviors: terrorism, the introduction of exotic species and the large scale use of parks for unlawful immigration.

C. Evaluating Present Protection Capacities

This section will evaluate the existing re-active and isolated resource protection model most commonly employed in U.S. protected areas against the threat classes discussed above. Recent evaluations of the existing model by the agencies, scientists and constituent groups will be employed to illustrate existing deficiencies and to illuminate alternative models.

D. Understanding Resource Risk

1. Vulnerability

This section will discuss the factors affecting resource vulnerability to derogation. It will list and discuss natural factors which may make resources less or more likely to suffer significant harm from resource derogation events. Examples of these factors include resource scarcity, low reproductive capacity, isolated populations and low genetic diversity.

        2. Human Factors

This component will focus on human factors affecting the level of resource risk. This includes such economic factors as market demand, and social drivers such as ego and status needs.

E. Prioritizing Resource Risk

This block of instruction will discuss the conflicting and frequently overwhelming demands for resource protection experienced by forest and park managers. In the absence of a reliable tool for establishing priorities, current protection activities are largely random and unsophisticated. In many cases, different organizational components in the same agency have conflicting priorities. However, several methodologies are being developed and tested in parks around the country. Students will be exposed to these metrics and challenged to apply them to their case study papers and presentations.

F. Enforcement Tools for Interdicting Resource Harm

1. Laws and Regulations

The intent and elements of the following laws will be discussed: