An overview of the social, political, and ethical aspects of
making natural resource management decisions; topics include
natural resource conservation history, regulatory and legal
issues, decision-making processes involving public and private
stakeholders, the importance of human attitudes and values
(human dimensions) in natural resource management, and
professional and environmental ethics.
Athena Title
Society and Natural Resources
Non-Traditional Format
Course will meet for seven weeks only. The lecture portion of
this course will meet on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday for one
period. Discussion section will meet on Tuesday or Thursday for
one period.
Prerequisite
Second year student standing
Semester Course Offered
Offered fall and spring
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Student Learning Outcomes
By the end of this course, students will be able to communicate and explain the influence of social values on historical and current debates in natural resource conservation.
By the end of this course, students will be able to articulate their own land ethic and compare it with the land ethic of other important conservation leaders.
By the end of this course, students will be able to understand and apply ethical principles to a variety of practical natural resource dilemmas.
By the end of this course, students will be able to identify and categorize the major categories of landowners in Georgia and the United States and describe the differences in their management priorities, challenges, and practices.
By the end of this course, students will be able to explain the unique conflicts and opportunities presented in situations of common-pool resources, common property systems, unclear or informal tenure, and where local resource users are subject to decisions outside of their control.
By the end of this course, students will be able to search for, comprehend, and synthesize the scholarly literature on natural resource social science.
Topical Outline
I. History of human use of natural resources in North America – changes in societal norms and human attitudes and values associated with the environment, wilderness, environmentalism, environmental quality, conservation, and preservation.
A. Native Americans
1. Beliefs and values; effects of beliefs on land-use practices; use of fire
2. Differences among tribes in their relation to the environment
B. European Colonization
1. Beliefs and values; effects of beliefs on land-use practices
2. Development of land policy in the United States
3. "Myth of Superabundance" and exploitation of natural resources
C. The Land Ethic, preservation, and conservation of natural resources
1. Early conservationists – Pinchot, Muir, Roosevelt, Leopold
2. Development of national forests, national parks, etc.
3. Key legislation and implications for policy
II. Current and future changes and issues – perceptions and assessment of modern environmental issues, decision-makers, and natural resource conservation
A. Agencies, organizations, agendas, and philosophies
1. Major legislation and governmental policies that affect natural resources
2. Current issues and philosophies that affect managerial decisions
B. Decision-making in natural resources
1. Preparing for and conducting public meetings dealing with natural resources
2. Use of information facilitation and technology in conservation education
3. Role of science vs. politics in resource management decisions; role of lobbyists in decision-making
4. Incorporating traditional and nontraditional data in natural resource management decisions
C. Human dimensions and natural resource conservation
1. Basic concepts of human dimensions
2. Paradigms for natural resource decision-making and planning
3. Past, current, and future socio-demographic changes, issues, and trends
4. Urban-wildland interface and development pressure
D. Resource-dependent communities
1. Subsistence hunting
2. Logging on public vs. private forests – local community effects (social, economic, and ecological)
3. Eco-tourism and restoration of species
III. The role of natural resources professionals
A. How to resolve conflicting demands and pressures on natural resource management
1. Diverse stakeholders and conflict resolution
B. Professional ethics
1. Codes of ethics and standards of professional conduct
2. Understanding and evaluating moral dilemmas
Institutional Competencies
Analytical Thinking
The ability to reason, interpret, analyze, and solve problems from a wide array of authentic contexts.
Critical Thinking
The ability to pursue and comprehensively evaluate information before accepting or establishing a conclusion, decision, or action.
Social Awareness & Responsibility
The capacity to understand the interdependence of people, communities, and self in a global society.
