Fall Term, 2014-5
Tuesday, Thursday 11:00 – 12:20, FSC 1221
Wednesday, 2-4, FSC 1615
George Hoberg
Professor, Department of Forest Resources Management
604-822-3728
george.hoberg@ubc.ca
FSC 2037
Office Hours: Office hours Wednesday 11-12, Thursday 1-2
Note: This course is coordinated with an undergraduate forest policy course, FRST 415. FRST 523 graduate students will attend the FRST 415 lectures, Tu-Th 11-12:20, and in addition have one separate class meeting per week on Wednesday from 2-3.
This course examines the challenges in designing policies for the sustainable management of renewable natural resources by focusing on forest policy in British Columbia. The concepts developed throughout the course are generally applicable, but this course focuses on forest policy in British Columbia. The course examines the following policy drivers:
- A diversity of political actors, including environmentalists and First Nations
- International forces
- Market forces
- Climate change
Throughout the course, a series of themes will be developed linking these drivers to specific cases in BC forest policy. Special attention will be given to incorporating strategies to carbon emissions from forests, and the need for reconciliation with First Nations. Students will be required to demonstrate an understanding of the course themes and how they apply to specific cases in BC forest policy.
Simulations
Each student participates in a term-long group project, a simulated multi-stakeholder consultation on a topical issue in BC forest policy. The topic will be developed over the first several weeks in consultation with students. Students work together to prepare a written brief, due on November 13, and participate in an evening simulated stakeholder consultations, November 17 or 18 from 5-9 PM.
Materials
There is one textbook for this course, available at the UBC Bookstore:
Marty Luckert, David Haley, and George Hoberg, Policies for Sustainably Managing Canada’s Forests: Provincial Tenure, Stumpage Fees, and Forest Practices, (Vancouver: UBC Press, 2011)
Other readings are either available online or in the packet of readings available at the bookstore.
Assessment
The midterm and final exams will be based on the readings and lectures, including guest lectures. They are designed to ensure that you have absorbed and understood the readings and lectures and how they relate to the course themes. The final exam will also contain a synthetic and analytical component. It will not be cumulative on the specifics of readings and lectures (with some notable exceptions that will be specified), but will be cumulative on broader concepts and themes.
Your grade for the course will be based on the following:
- Midterm (15%) – October 21 2011 fall midterm a
- Policy Analysis Quiz (5%) – November 5
- Final Examination (40%)
- Class participation (10%)
- Simulation (30%) (10% for the group brief due November 13; 10% for each student’s participation in the group (peer assessed); 10% for the performance of each group in the consultation (November 19).
Policy for missed exams or assignments
If a student misses an exam or other course assignment due to illness or some other legitimate reason, he/she should first approach the course instructor to try to arrange suitable accommodation. If the student is not satisfied with the accommodation offered by the instructor, he/she has the right to appeal to the Dean’s office. If a student misses a final exam held during the exam period, the student should apply directly to the Dean’s office (Student Services) for concession.
