SWARS Spatial Analysis, The Book (3)

Define The Issues...

There was a joke floating happily around the classroom during our Hawaii workshop after everybody got to actually run through the modeling process and saw some results. It said, after you ran the final model, if the map didn't come out as you had expected (base on the issue you defined), just go back and "re-define" your issue to match the map, and all will be just fine. Hey, that would be an EXCELLENT solution!

Seriously now.

The SWARS Spatial Analysis for the islands will take the Issue Driven route. That means, the issue, as it's defined, will dictate all following analyses, spatial or nonspatial. Creating a clear statement of the issue is your step number one.

When asked what the issue is, you can't just say "Watershed", or "Fire", or "Agriculture". I mean, you shouldn't, not that you cannot. Remember, the final priority map coming out of the spatial analysis is a visual representation of the defined issue. Think about how you would be explaining the map to a viewer. It wouldn't be nice to point to all the differently colored areas and use the same and only word "agriculture" as the description. You need something a lot more detailed, something like, "the red areas are the places with the highest priority where we should deploy our limited resources in order to protect our current food productions". Better?

Here, let's see a few good examples from the now famous Texas SWARS report.

* Central Texas woodlands conservation
* Sustainability of forest resources in East Texas
* Reduce the impacts of land-use change, fragmentation, and urbanization
* Moderate the impacts of catastrophic events
* Protect and improve air quality


To help you "choose and determine" and possibly "define" the issues, take a look at the big umbrella of the national State and Private Forestry (S&PF) themes and objectives.


S&PF National Themes and Objectives

1. Conserve Working Forest Landscapes
1.1 Identify and conserve high priority forest ecosystems and landscapes
1.2 Actively and sustainably manage forests
2. Protect Forests from Harm
2.1 Restore fire-adapted lands and reduce risk of wildfire impacts
2.2 Identify, manage, and reduce threats to forest and ecosystem health
3. Enhance Public Benefits from Trees and Forests
3.1 Protect and enhance water quality and quantity
3.2 Improve air quality and conserve energy
3.3 Assist communities in planning for and reducing wildfire risks
3.4 Maintain and enhance the economic benefits and values of trees and forests
3.5 Protect, conserve, and enhance wildlife and fish habitat
3.6 Connect people to trees and forests, and engage them in environmental stewardship activities
3.7 Manage and restore trees and forests to mitigate and adapt to global climate change
*source: NAASF Guide for Statewide Forest Resource Strategies (July 21, 2009). p.13