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2	Outline Landscape Dynamic Simulation Models (LDSM)—utility as communication tool The Swan Valley, Western Montana Existing partnerships in the Swan Valley Landscape Assessment for the Swan Valley Testing a LDSM on non-agency participants
3	LDSM’s and Resource Planning LDSM’s are recommended as important to resource planning efforts A tool for land managers (Forest Service and BLM) Integrate knowledge of vegetation change resulting from disturbance processes and management actions
4	The SIMPPLLE Model Interaction between disturbance processes Interaction between processes and vegetation patterns Interaction of landscape components: vegetation, landforms, aquatics integration of knowledge from fine scale models and expert opinion
5	SIMPPLE Development Goals Consider disturbance processes as stochastic events Spatial effects of treatments on disturbance processes Quantify ranges of vegetation conditions and disturbances Identify desired future conditions on changing ecosystems
6	Primary Model Function TO HELP DESIGN AND EVALUATE MANAGEMENT ACTIONS IN A COLLABORATIVE FASHION WITH AN UNDERSTANDING OF LANDSCAPE DYNAMICS
7	Model Application BLM Dillon Field Office, RMP-2003 Multi-disciplinary team Better able to see implications of alternatives at landscape scale
8	Upper Swan Valley, Montana
9	Upper Swan Valley
10	Swan Valley Ownership
11	Community Profile (1993) 25% of permanent residents hold >1 job ~1/2 of permanent residents are self-employed 30% of the valley’s total population is retired
12	Development of Swan Citizen’s Ad Hoc Committee (1990) Corporate and administrative management Concerns for continued livelihood from local population dependent on natural resources Concerns for protection of large wilderness complexes
13	Role of the Ad Hoc Committee To address and help remedy the economic, environmental, and cultural problems related to the decline in the Valley’s natural resource base Build community dialogue on specific natural resource issues including: Road building Timber harvest Ecologically sound resource management
14	Swan Ecosystem Center (SEC) Established as a nonprofit by an ad hoc subcommittee Prevented closure of the Swan’s remaining Forest Service facility (the Condon Work Center) Serves to represent the community in partnership with the Forest Service
15	SEC and Swan Community Projects Forest stewardship timber management and logging Commercial thinning Fire ecology Returning low intensity fire to site Long term site monitoring Vegetation, animal, and bird populations
16	Collaboration Established
17	Upper Swan Valley Landscape Assessment
18	Foundation For Sustainable Ecosystem Management Baseline of current conditions Document for forest plan revision Foster community interest in a healthy ecosystem Encourage resolution of issues among landowners Develop common vision of conditions Build trust through collaboration
19	A Road Less Traveled Communication between expert and non-expert groups Community collaboration How adults learn Hands-on learning
20	Objectives Test model utility as an aid for communicating landscape level management goals Test model utility as an aid to reaching agreement on management goals Help Swan participants develop ecosystem management approach to managing community forest and other private lands
21	Communicating Landscape Concepts Initial interviews to measure general understanding of ecological change on the Swan landscape Conduct modeling workshop with hands-on exercises Follow-up interviews to measure changes in understanding of ecological change
22	Collaboration Participants develop management alternatives using the model Participants will run simulations and output will be displayed and discussed in a workshop Final interview conducted
23	Deliverables An approach to using a LDSM as a tool for science communication, An approach to using a LDSM in collaborative efforts, An ecosystem management plan for the Swan community forest
24	Where Am I? Data collection: vegetation map from satellite imagery, Forest Service Ground-truthing Participant selection by the Swan Ecosystem Center
25	Cooperation Kari Gunderson, Aldo Leopold Wilderness Research Institute Jimmie Chew, Rocky Mountain Research Station Barry Bollenbacher and Rich Lasko, USDA Forest Service, R1 Gary Dahlgren, Flathead National Forest Anne Dahl, Swan Ecosystem Center
26	Thank You!