Integrative Land Use Planning: Collaborative Tools for Optimizing Performance

Dates: May 14, 2013
 Day/Time: Tuesday, 8:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
Location: UO in Portland, White Stag Block, Room
Presenter: Kevin Halsey
Jason Franklin, AICP
CRN: SI
Department: NA
Number: NA
Credits: 0
Grade Options: non-credit

How do we measure functional outcomes of decisions we make that impact the spectrum of the human-built environment to the natural environment? This workshop looks at the decision-making process using a dashboard system that provides policy experts and business leaders with real-time metrics to better inform choices.

Course Description

The ability of the surrounding land to sustain our existence is an important aspect of sustainability. Clearly, we rely on healthy ecosystems for a multitude of benefits—from clean air, to clean water and climate regulation. What is less obvious, however, is the complex interconnection between the ecosystem and the social and economic systems. How we manage the land directly affects the health of the natural environment as well as the social and economic wellbeing of the population.

Decisions about how we manage the land around us occur at many levels and in many forms. At the most basic level, we all make decisions about how we manage the area around our residences. Cities and counties engage in land use planning to manage future growth and use of lands within their boundaries. Western states are entrusted with managing hundreds of thousands of acres (even millions in some cases) for the benefit of society. State and federal agencies manage large portions of the west for a variety of purposes.

The day will begin with examining the important linkages between ecological, social and economic systems and identifying mechanisms for integrating understanding of these important interrelationships into land management decision making processes. To illustrate, if a city reduces the amount of open space within its jurisdiction, there will be an increase in costs associated with water quality treatment. The day will conclude with a discussion of a series of examples that demonstrate how we can improve sustainable outcomes throughout our landscape—from our own backyards to the millions of acres of publicly managed land.

This workshop will be broken into five sessions designed to take participants progressively through the important issues associated with bringing sustainability to land management processes:

  • Session 1—Introducing and Understanding the Concepts
    This session will introduce important concepts associated with human dependence on ecological processes and ecosystem services and illustrate why these dependences are going to increasingly define the limits of sustainability. This session will also introduce the important connection between ecosystem services and sustainability and will demonstrate how ecosystem services approaches can provide tools for thinking about the relationships among the natural, social and economic systems.
  • Session 2—A Different Approach
    This session will describe current approaches to land use planning and land management decisions and will illustrate some of the inherent mechanisms that make it difficult for those processes to provide sustainable outcomes. This session will provide alternative approaches for decision making that integrate ecological, social and economic factors in a more effective manner.
  • Session 3—Examples of an Alternative Approach to Land Use and Land Management
    This session will address application of alternative approaches to land management decisions. We will begin with a few examples of how to apply these concepts at a backyard level and then move into a discussion of changes that can improve land use planning processes. This session will look closely at the Oregon land use planning system and identify the existing missed opportunities within that system. Additional issues addressed will include private property rights, balancing private rights and social responsibility, and use of market approaches.
  • Session 4—Examples of Alternative Approach Continued
    This session will be a continuation of the examples started in Session 3, and it will cover management of state trust and public resource lands such as Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management lands.
  • Session 5—Land Management Scenario Game
    This session will give students a chance to apply the concepts discussed during the day through a land management scenario game.

This workshop is designed to cover a number of concepts. To ensure participants are provided with the understanding they need to apply these concepts in the future, sessions will include real life examples, case studies and project examples. In addition, these five sessions will include a combination of presentation, group exercises, and facilitated discussion.

Online registration not currently available for this course