Program Objectives: (from 2007-2008 program)

Orientation Day

• Present a brief history of the Forum and explain its structure.
• Introduce the participants to one another and to EFM’s board and coordinators.
• Introduce the concept of advocacy.
• Explain the Earth Forum and distribute program materials.
• Establish a sense of class community.
• Introduce the concept of sustainability, explain the Forum’s sustainable energy policy theme, and explore reasons for preserving the environment, including the web of life.

Geology and Soils

• Introduce plate tectonics and the geologic history of Marin County.
• Introduce the major rock types of Marin County and their locations.
• Introduce the major soils found in Marin County, their key characteristics, and the rock types and processes that produce them.
• Introduce the major earthquake faults and their importance in shaping Marin County, their past behaviors and the hazards they represent, and the county agencies involved with such issues.
• Introduce other hazards such as landslides, debris flows, floods, subsidence, liquefaction, and soil and groundwater contamination, and the county agencies involved with such issues.
• Introduce streams as a force shaping the landforms of Marin and explain other impacts of their flow.

Plants of Marin’s Natural Communities

• A field survey and transect from the San Rafael bayshore, across Mt. Tam to the Pacific Headlands at Muir Beach
• Introduce some of the many natural communities found in Marin County.
• Consider the physical factors that shape and limit these biological communities such as soils, climate and fire.
• Examine the special adaptations of plants living in each of these communities and introduce the ideas of distribution range and endemism.
• Introduce the ideas and significance of biodiversity, the position of endangered or threatened species, and show how human activities, such as introduction of invasive species and global warming, may affect them.

Wildlife Day

• Gain an understanding of ecosystems, habitat fragmentation, island biology and the implications for biodiversity.
• Acquire a basic understanding of the web of life: the interdependency of species and how changes in food supply and changes in population filter through from one species to another.
• Learn the history of wildlife in Marin, understand changes that have taken place over the past 200 years and consider the condition of wildlife today, including possible impacts of climate change.
• Explore major proposed policies and programs that would affect the existing ecosystem, and identify the agencies that would be involved.

Agriculture and Mariculture

• Review some of Marin’s plant communities and look at watersheds en route to West Marin.
• Visit two of West Marin’s agricultural and maricultural operations and gain some understanding of their operations and some of their environmental challenges.
• Introduce the history of coastal zone management in Marin County and its relationship to agriculture.
• Learn about the Marin Agricultural Land Trust (MALT) that preserves ag land in Marin.
• Learn about innovative agricultural operations changing the ag industry in this county, including controlling waste and harnessing it to produce renewable energy.

Marin Baylands

The Marin baylands comprise numerous habitats: salt marshes, diked baylands, seasonal wetlands, riparian corridors, adjacent uplands, grasslands, oak woodlands and the bay.

• Study the baylands as an ecosystem, bringing in energy flow and nutrient cycling.
• Study the biology of a salt marsh habitat and how the bayland habitats function as an environmental unit.
• Understand historic human uses of baylands and their resulting impacts on the ecosystem.
• Review current efforts to protect and restore baylands.
• Discuss how baylands may be affected by rising sea level and what can be done about it.
• Introduce the importance of watershed and creek management in providing a sustainable water supply for both people and wildlife.

Energy Day

• Learn how alternative and conventional energy is produced and distributed.
• Learn the degree to which energy production and distribution affects the environment (pollution of air, land and water; climate change; etc.).
• Explore how individual energy choices affect the economy, human and ecological health, and sustainability.
• Understand global energy agreements and trends.
• Understand what corporations, utilities and governments are and are not doing to restore and maintain a healthy carbon economy.
• Reveal how energy is at the heart of the economics of capitalism and sustainability, and the tradeoffs associated with fossil-fuel and renewable energy sources.

Advocacy (Introduction) and Environmental Education

• Provide an introduction to public speaking and communication skills, in preparation for Advocacy Day presentations, and learn what is required to be an effective advocate.
• Understand the full scope of participation in environmental issues by learning different ways that advocacy can take place.
• Appreciate examples of environmental activism and advocacy in action.
• Introduce local and regional political systems—including how Marin County’s major public agencies are organized and what their responsibilities are—so as to maximize advocacy efforts.
• Understand the role of environmental education as a foundation for environmental awareness and involvement.

Bay/Estuary/Ocean Ecosystems

• Gain a basic understanding of the geology and hydrology of the San Francisco Bay ecosystem.
• Present a historical perspective of the bay and ocean, and learn about harmful human impacts on them.
• Understand why sea levels and temperatures are rising, and how warmer oceans affect climate.
• Introduce advocacy organizations and government agencies that are working to reduce harmful human impacts on the bay and ocean systems.
• Help participants better understand the impact of daily food decisions on ocean ecosystem health and the economy.
• Review the importance of watershed management in providing a sustainable water supply for both people and wildlife.

Water Resources

• Learn about water demand, water supply and water-quality issues on the state, regional and local levels.
• Learn about the projected water needs of Marin and explore the pros and cons of several supply sources for the Marin Municipal Water District.
• Understand the energy requirements of the existing and proposed (e.g., desalinization) Marin water systems, and the feasibility of using renewable energy.
• Consider possible effects of climate change on water sources.

Advocacy and Citizen Action

• Practice communication skills and effective advocacy by delivering a two-minute presentation before the EFM class.
• Review local and regional political systems—including how Marin County’s major public agencies are organized and what their responsibilities are—so as to maximize advocacy efforts.

Introduction to Sustainability

• Explore the meaning of “sustainability” and the impact of consumption and population on achieving sustainability goals.
• Examine the interconnectedness of consumption, overpopulation and the environment using various sustainability models, such as the three E's, Ecological Footprint and Natural Step.
• Present a global perspective on consumption, population and sustainability issues and link the global perspective to specifics in Marin County and the Bay Area, including how individuals can make more sustainable choices (review the three R’s).

The Economics of Sustainability

• Examine the relationship between sustainability and capitalism.
• Encourage individuals to examine their own behavior as it relates to the economics of sustainability.
• Expose individuals to specific ideas and opportunities to make more sustainable economic choices.
• Show how ecological services and impacts have never been accounted for in the costs of doing business and how imperative it is that these costs now be considered.
• Demonstrate how some businesses are implementing sustainable strategies while improving economic performance.

Transportation and Energy

• Learn about different types of vehicles—fossil fuel, electric, hybrid, etc.—and how they work.
• Learn about their effects on our environment: pollution, greenhouse-gas emissions, disposal of used material (batteries, tires, etc.) and infrastructure required.
• Understand the upstream and downstream energy costs of various modes of transportation.
• Learn about social, economic and physical barriers to the implementation of new technology.
• Learn about the operation, financing and environmental impacts of Marin’s mass-transit systems.

Land Use

• Learn how land use patterns developed in Marin.
• Learn about the function and processes of general plans, including the current status and sustainability elements of the Countywide Plan.
• Acquire a basic understanding of land-use planning so as to be prepared to evaluate and comment on EIRs, CEQA and the application process.
• Understand local zoning designations and their effect on land use, how land use policies affect energy demand and how state property tax policies affect land-use decisions.
• Understand housing issues in Marin, including lack of affordable housing and its effect on energy use.
• Explore the concept of “smart growth” and how it can be applied in Marin County.

Resource Recovery and Toxics

• Understand that human health is affected by the cumulative impacts of environmental pollutants (many of which derive from fossil fuels).
• Learn how to practice preventative behaviors and to assess safer alternatives.
• Learn how the Precautionary Principle is being used in local government.
• Study the source-reduction and recycling element of the Countywide Plan and state regulations.
• Understand solid waste practices and issues in Marin: a) disposal; b) recycle c) potential for methane recovery.

Environmental Philosophy

• Review historic and cultural trends that have led to our current relationship with the environment, including the role of fossil fuels.
• Explore non-Western environmental world views.
• Examine our own environmental values and philosophy, including their roots and evolution.
• Discover concepts and adopt strategies for honoring environmental principles and actions in our daily lives.

Student Projects

• Encourage participants to learn more about and get more involved in an environmental issue that interests them, through research, advocacy or work on a practical project.
• Give participants public speaking experience by presenting their projects to their classmates and EFM members.

Graduation

• Celebrate the graduation of the members of Forum XXXV.