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Chapter
2 Summary: Environmental Planning
Discussion
Questions
Chapter 2 Exercises
Summary:
Planning, especially
in the public context, is a diverse and interdisciplinary field that is
continuing to evolve as society changes, as democracy matures, and as
methods of knowledge generation improve. This is particularly true in
an environmental context that is heavily influenced by both science and
human and societal values, as well as the disciplinary influences of engineering,
economics, politics, communication,
law, and ethics.
Making sense of it all can be fun but challenging. Planners have lightened
up on their quest to know everything before making decisions by engaging
in a process of learning. Although this takes the pressure off the search
for the "best and only" solution, it raises different problems
of process and communication. When applied to scientific learning through
adaptive management, additional challenges for monitoring and evaluation
are required for learning by doing. Planning continues to evolve as we
improve our capacity to make smarter decisions based on the best information
available and the broadest range of public values.
Chapter 2 Discussion questions:
1.
"We can effectively manage the environment by using our economic
system and ‘getting the prices right’ by internalizing external
environmental and social costs." Provide a statement supporting and
one contradicting this statement.
2. Can you distinguish among the following terms introduced in chapters
1 and 2: use value, option value, existence value, bequest value, insurance
value, instrumental value, intrinsic value, and inherent worth?
3. Why is evaluation such an important part of environmental planning
and management? Why do sum-of-weighted-factors methods fit "partial"
evaluation methods better than "comprehensive" evaluation methods?
4. Planners, especially environmental planners, must wear several disciplinary
hats and play a variety of roles to be effective. Given the different
considerations and roles discussed in chapter 2, describe the characteristics
of the planner you would like to become.
Chapter 2 Exercises:
1.
Take the generic planning process given in Box 2.1 and apply it to the
following situations given below. Without researching these situations,
use your common sense to list the type of information you might need in
steps 1 and 2, the types of stakeholders your would engage, and the relative
level of detail and time applied to each step.
a. Siting a landfill
b. Siting and planning a new freeway interchange
c. Managing a regional park for passive and active recreation
d. Planning for damage relief and restoration immediately after a major
hurricane
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