NATRS 400 - Forest Practices, Law and Policy

Credits: 5
A core forest resource management course. Students examine and analyze natural resource policy including environmental impact statements, environmental assessments, and habitat conservation plans. Students appraise and critique administrative behavior, as well as legislative, regulatory, legal, ethical, and personal considerations as applied to forestry operations in Washington State and nationally. Students discuss and demonstrate applications of Washington Forest Practices, Habitat Conservation Plans, Clean Air, Clean Water, and Endangered Species Acts.

Enrollment Requirement: ENGL 128 and NATRS 390 with grades of 2.0 or higher; and instructor consent.

Course Outcomes:
Students who successfully complete this class will be able to:

Demonstrate their familiarity with the various environmental acts, laws, policies that govern Natural Resources on a national and local basis.
Demonstrate their familiarity with the updated and current HCP and Washington Forest Practice Rules and Regulations and how they are applied locally.
Demonstrate the understanding of the practical impacts of the Clean Air and Clean Water Acts, as well as the Endangered Species Act and how they impact land and water management in the Pacific Northwest (PNW).
Participate in a public forum and understand the process of an Interdisciplinary Team (IDT) in the review process of the Forest Practice Applications (FPA). Explain the process and outcomes of an Interdisciplinary Team (IDT) review of an FPA
Demonstrate their appraisal and critiquing administrative process and behaviors, as well as legislative, regulatory, legal ethical, tribal and personal considerations. (This is the format of Timber, Fish and Wildlife (TWF) Cooperators).
Identify/define/explain the differences between the state and federal environmental acts and policies discussed in class. Be familiar with the SEPA document and the process.
Describe and explaining how the TFW Cooperative started, how it has developed over time and what its current role is in the management of natural resources in today’s environment.

Program Outcomes

Attain a job in the Natural Resources field.
Manage Forestland and Resources to attain positive outcomes.
Demonstrate effective written and verbal communications between industry partners and cooperators.

College-wide Outcomes

Critical Thinking - Critical thinking finds expression in all disciplines and everyday life. It is characterized by an ability to reflect upon thinking patterns, including the role of emotions on thoughts, and to rigorously assess the quality of thought through its work products. Critical thinkers routinely evaluate thinking processes and alter them, as necessary, to facilitate an improvement in their thinking and potentially foster certain dispositions or intellectual traits over time.
Responsibility - Responsibility encompasses those behaviors and dispositions necessary for students to be effective members of a community. This outcome is designed to help students recognize the value of a commitment to those responsibilities which will enable them to work successfully individually and with others.
Quantitative and Symbolic Reasoning - Quantitative Reasoning encompasses abilities necessary for a student to become literate in today’s technological world. Quantitative reasoning begins with basic skills and extends to problem solving.
Written Communication - Written Communication encompasses all the abilities necessary for effective expression of thoughts, feelings, and ideas in written form.