The 2005 planning rule as a teaching tool

In 2005, the US Forest Service released a new planning rule, more incremental in its approach, and intended to overcome limitations identified in previous US Forest Service planning approaches. We have adopted a new framework broadly based on the 2005 rule and enhanced by the use of scenario planning techniques for our senior capstone planning course. Our methodology is described, along with the positive and negative effects of the new approach we have observed in our 2 years of experiences. Although our key learning outcomes remain unchanged, the new approach has shifted the emphasis toward the recognition of multiple perspectives and divergent social values and uncertainty, at some cost to the rigor of the technical analysis. Examples of student management plans, and a public presentation by the 2007 class, are available on our class website.