7 - Coherence and Policy

Summary

The facts about humanity's contemporary damage—

and threats of even more perilous future damage—

to the environment are almost too much with us.

They scream in horrifying detail, not merely from the face of nature

but from every medium of communication.

Policy is a word we hear often. There are at least ten definitions of the concept policy. For sure, policy is about decision-making, setting strategic aims, and implementation. It is typically political as well as empirical. Management uses programs to carry out policy prescriptions. Newspapers are full of comments about various policies in the GYE, especially the adequacy of those meant to conserve wildlife (e.g., Endangered Species Act and grizzly bears). Some people say that we need new policy. For example, the news is full of claims that better GYE-wide policy is needed for wolves, elk migrations, and visitor numbers. Claimants for new policy are frequently met by counterclaimants saying that current policy is fine (e.g., grizzly bear management claims by environmentalists vs. counterclaims made by some Wyoming citizens and officials). Elk management in Wyoming is another contentious issue, especially around feedlots and over chronic wasting disease (CWD). There are many problematic policy challenges in the GYE and there is always room to do better. Typically, we take on GYE policy issues one at a time and talk about them in concrete management terms (e.g., wolf numbers, grizzly bear deaths, deer movements). But there is confusion over policy as a concept and practice, and with its inherent politics, and therefore policy is often a messy process.

To me, overall GYE policy process raises bigger questions. Most broadly, the key question is what overarching policy is needed to ensure a long-term healthy future for the GYE? For example, what is being called for by claimants that new policy is needed and existing policy is ineffective? What is coherent policy? When we get bogged down in disputes over technical challenges and technical solutions, are we missing the forest for the trees? In this chapter, I examine the concept “policy,” explore the policy process, analytic approaches available to us, and look specifically at GYE cases (e.g., elk management).

Coherent GYE policy should be logical, consistent, and justified. It should be clear, ordered, and integrated. The elements of coherent policy are carefully considered and each part of it connects or follows in a natural or reasonable way.