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Want to Attend a Wilderness
Stewardship Training Course? |
Iceberg Lake in Kenai Wilderness | | |
Karen Lindsey, Carhart Center Fish & Wildlife Service
Representative, will be facilitating an Interagency Regional Course in Homer, Alaska from September 13-16, 2010.
Topics include interpreting the Wilderness Act, Minimum Requirements Analysis, ANILCA, and more. Participants also experience a working trip into the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge.
Additional details and registration instructions found here. |
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Considering the Minimum Necessary in a Crisis:
Gulf Oil Spill Case Study
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When a large incident occurs on a unit, the initial reaction is often, "Just do something and fix the problem." It can be difficult to step back and size up the situation to determine if something really needs to be done, much less how best to take action. But that's just what Nina Kelson, Acting Superintendent at Gulf Island National Seashore (GUIS) did in face of the largest oil spill in our nation's history.
When the Deepwater Horizon oil rig exploded, April 20, 2010, it resulted in a major release of crude oil into marine waters off the coast of Louisiana. Oil threatens to wash ashore GUIS including Horn Island and Petit Bois Island, both congressionally designated wilderness areas. In response to the threat, Rick Clark, Chief of Science and Resource Management, and Mark Kinzer, Southeast Regional Wilderness Coordinator for the National Park Service went to Wilderness.net, pulled down the most recent version of the Carhart Center's Minimum Requirements Decision Guide (MRDG) and went to work. Upon confirmation that action would have to be taken in wilderness if oil washed ashore, they set to sorting out how to take action with the least impact to all the qualities of wilderness character. Following steps outlined in the MRDG, two alternatives were developed and considered. The selected alternative, reviewed and recommended by Clay Jordon, GUIS Chief Ranger and Dan Pontbriand, NPS IMT-T2 Incident Commander, requires use of non-motorized equipment and non-mechanical transport unless it is determined in practice that this approach is inadequate to prevent or minimize impacts to the natural qualities of wilderness character. Even then, consultation with and subsequent approval by GUIS Acting Superintendent must be obtained in advance of use of more aggressive forms of treatment.
GUIS demonstrated that regardless of the magnitude of an event, it is critical to take time to think through and document the need for action and to consider and compare alternative actions and their impacts to wilderness character. By using the MRDG, GUIS has helped ensure that actions taken to address the oil spill aren't more damaging to wilderness than the oil spill itself. If you'd like to see the complete GUIS MRA, click here. If your unit is contemplating action in wilderness, follow the GUIS lead and use the MRDG to document your decision.
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Getting the Most Out of Training "...I now have an appreciation for managing wilderness from the four cornerstones of wilderness stewardship."
Many of us have attended training that we thought was interesting and informative, but when back at our unit we had a hard time remembering, much less applying, what was learned. We wanted to find out how at least one participant is applying what he learned at the National Wilderness Stewardship Training course hosted by the Carhart Center in Missoula, MT, June 22nd-26th. Fred Boyles, Superintendent of Cumberland Island National Seashore, graduated from the course and here is what he had to say:
Carhart Center: What are the most pressing wilderness management issues you currently face?
Boyles: For the past year, Cumberland Island National Seashore has wrestled with an issue of a hunting camp located in Wilderness. The camp, that has three buildings, has served the park's six managed hunts required by legislation since 1984. That is just one of many. Another, and perhaps larger issue, is that of pre-existing rights that allow many in our wilderness to not have to adhere to the spirit or intent of wilderness laws.
What did you learn at the National Wilderness Stewardship Training (NWST) Course that has helped to address those issues?
The most important thing that I learned was the process of doing a minimum requirements analysis for actions taken in wilderness.
How did the NWST Course differ from other training experiences you have had in the past? Did it meet your expectations?
What made this training so special were two things. First, the Interagency make-up of the class. Having participants from four different land management agencies made it different than any other class I have attended. Second, was the field trip. This allowed for the participants to have some quality time together in a wilderness setting to discuss the issues we face.
How have your wilderness management strategies evolved since completion of the NWST Course?
I have studied and read about wilderness in the past, but I really knew little about actual management of designated wilderness. Since the class, I now have an appreciation for managing wilderness from the four cornerstones of wilderness stewardship. I also learned much from other participants and the instructors in the practical approaches they used to solve conflicts.
What advice do you have to offer novice wilderness managers or people with an interest in becoming wilderness managers?
Sign up for the National Wilderness Stewardship Course -- make it a priority! I will be sharing my experience with others in my agency and strongly encourage their participation.
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No matter what training you attend, there are a few guidelines we can see from Fred's experience that will help you get the most out of it:
- Attend with the end in mind: Clarify your issues and consider how the information presented throughout the course will help you address your issues
- Capitalize on knowledge and experiences of other participants: There is almost always someone else attending training who has or is struggling with the same issues you are and you can learn a tremendous amount from them. This means that at breaks, instead of racing to your room to answer emails and phone calls, spend time introducing yourself to and learning from your colleagues.
- Make a commitment: Before you even leave the class, decide on one action you will take to apply what you've learned when you get back to your unit.
- Apply what you learn: When you get back to your unit, take steps to implement what you learned.
Many thanks to Fred for taking part in this interview. To learn more about our wilderness stewardship training courses, visit our website.
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How Would You Improve Wilderness Field Uniforms?
With the field season in full swing, what you wear when you're working in the backcountry can affect your comfort and productivity. To help facilitate discussions concerning uniform needs of field staff, the Forest Service Wilderness Advisory Group (WAG) has started a discussion group on Connect.wilderness.net. According to the group, numerous issues have been raised relative to the suitability of many of the field uniform components for backcountry use. In order to obtain quality feedback, WAG has asked group members to respond to the following questions:
Some of the initial responses include: no more cotton, pants with zip-off legs, clothing lighter in weight, and utilization of current military clothing lines made by outdoor clothing companies such as Patagonia. No matter what agency you represent, please visit the Forest Service Wilderness Uniforms Group on Connect.wilderness.net to add your suggestions for improvement. |
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If you have any questions, comments, or want to suggest a topic for the newsletter, please feel free to email us. We'd love to hear what topics are most interesting to you so we can focus on them. Until next time!
Sincerely,
Arthur Carhart National Wilderness Training Center
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