PDF: Proceedings - Limits of Acceptable Change and Related Planning Processes: Progress and Future Directions

Citation
McCool, S. F., and Cole, D. N. (1997). (comp.), Proceedings - Limits of Acceptable Change and Related Planning Processes: Progress and Future Directions. Ogden, UT: USDA Forest Service, Intermountain Research Station.

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Summary
This proceedings resulted from a workshop on Limits of Acceptable Change (LAC) and related planning processes. Workshop goals were to assess progress in applications of LAC and to work toward more successful applications in the future. Particular attention was given to concepts and terminology requiring clarification and to procedural revisions. Although initially developed to address the issue of recreation use in wilderness, the LAC process can clearly be used outside wilderness and to address issues other than recreation. Considerable attention was devoted to identifying the range of situations in which LAC can be usefully applied. To archive experience with these processes, the successes and failures with LAC applications were described. Attendees identified the means of addressing weaknesses and discussed barriers to effective implementation. Many of these are institutional in nature and will be difficult to change. Finally, workshop attendees felt strongly that certain innovations within the LAC process could make substantial contributions to improved planning within the Federal land management agencies. Following an introductory review of how and why the workshop was held, the proceedings contains three sections. The first section is a compilation of the papers written by workshop attendees. The second section consists of three synthesis papers written by workshop organizers, David Cole and Steve McCool. These papers attempt to describe (1) recommended conceptual and terminology clarifications and modifications to the LAC process, (2) the range of situations to which LAC can be usefully applied, and (3) lessons learned from 15 years of LAC applications. The third section is an annotated bibliography of LAC and LAC-related publications.

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