ASHEVILLE, NC The U.S. Forest Service Eastern Forest Environmental Threat Assessment Center (EFETAC) recently launched the Comparative Risk Assessment Framework and Tools (CRAFT), a user-friendly, Web-based support system that helps natural resource managers address uncertainties inherent in land management decisions. CRAFT offers a structured, simplified approach to determine objectives and calculates risks and tradeoffs associated with different management scenarios. EFETAC soon will offer training workshops on CRAFT, which is available on-line at http://CRAFT.forestthreats.org.
According to Danny C. Lee, EFETAC Director, "Uncertainty is unavoidable in all types of management decisions, whether we're talking about climatic, ecological, or social factors. CRAFT allows planning teams to explore the implications of that uncertainty on the consequences of their decisions using a versatile and customizable framework that is amenable to a wide range of land management issues and venues."
CRAFT builds on the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) framework for managing public lands and approaches forest issues comprehensively. The tool incorporates decision making techniques that allow teams of managers and diverse stakeholders to outline their management objectives, design alternatives, consider effects of these alternatives, and synthesize this information to arrive at the best possible decision. Each step of the CRAFT process can be published in a Web-based format to ensure documentation and transparency.
"CRAFT emphasizes comparative risk assessment," explains Steve Norman, EFETAC research ecologist and CRAFT developer. "Users are empowered to focus on their measurable values, be more inclusive of tradeoffs, and understand associated uncertainties. With CRAFT, a more thorough consideration of stakeholder viewpoints, better vetted problem solutions, a broader understanding of c
'/>"/>
| Contact: Perdita B. Spriggs pspriggs@fs.fed.us 828-230-3292 Southern Research Station - USDA Forest Service Source:Eurekalert |
Related biology news :
1. Tropical insects go the distance to inform rainforest conservation
2. Rain forest protection works in Peru
3. New study warns limited carbon market puts 20 percent of tropical forest at risk
4. Humans fostering forest-destroying disease
5. Emphasis on conifer forests places multiple species at risk
6. Fireproofing homes dramatically reduces forest fire size, according to new study
7. Population movements and money remittances spur forest regrowth
8. Conservation International and Toyota partner to protect Philippines rain forests
9. Peat and forests save permafrost from melting
10. Amazon forest shows unexpected resiliency during drought
11. Spatial patterns in tropical forests can help to understand their high biodiversity
| Copyright © 2003-2012 Bio-Medicine. All rights reserved. ABOUT | CONTACT US | DISCLAIMER | PRIVACY POLICY | TERMS AND CONDITIONS |  |