Workshops

Workshops are an important extension activity of our project and will fulfill several different objectives. Our basic approach to model development stresses collaboration among diverse stakeholders from industry, government, consultants, First Nations, and the public. All participants have a vested interest in the development of analytical and decision-support models in recognition of the potential to explore innovative policies and adaptive management strategies that balance the supply of timber, and other extracted natural resources, with wildlife habitat supply. Effective collaboration, shared visions, and group consensus is fostered by professionally facilitated, consultative workshops.

Initially, the workshops will engage stakeholders in the design, progress, evaluation, and iterative refinement of the proposed models. Through the use of intuitive modeling tools such as Bayesian Belief Networks, that permit diverse information sources to be incorporated into the models and encourage participation, stakeholders will take ownership of the models. These modeling tools, and the workshop format, also map well into adaptive management approaches which promote both improved management and learning in a formal, rigorous, and systematic fashion.

In the intermediate stages of the research program, workshops will provide the forum through which various potential development scenarios for the pilot study area will be designed, integrated with the decision-support models, and evaluated against mutually agreed upon baseline measures. These scenarios, or possible futures, will ultimately provide insights into the potential impacts of resource management options. Longer term plans include conducting workshops with forest and land-use planners on the operation, application, and interpretation of the final decision-support model framework.

Details on the project's first workshop can be found here: Workshop #1 June 28, 2006 in Cranbrook, BC