Policy Brief Assignment

Take on the role of an environmental policy analyst and write a 2 page policy brief based on the deforestation issue portrayed below.

ORDER    NOW

“A policy brief is an advocacy and policy-making tool which communicates information to policy-makers and advocates for a certain course of action.  Persuasive, evidence-based, and structured writing of this type represents one of the most powerful ways of contributing to policy debates and influencing the policy-making process.”

[http://gdppc.idebate.org/content/writing-guidelines-policy-brief]

Typical Characteristics of a Policy Brief

• focused, succinct & limited
  problem & policy-oriented
• understandable, practical & feasible
• analysis-driven
• evidence-based
• offers viable recommendations
• appealing layout

Your policy brief should include the following components:

• executive summary
• introduction (context and importance of the issue
• approach and results (critique of the policy options)
• implications and recommendations
  conclusion

Be creative and feel free to “invent” information to lend credibility to the brief, and to cite your sources.  Remember to submit in MS Word.  My expectation is a well written policy brief.

Be sure to review the sample policy briefs in the appropriate folder under the Resources area, and to review the two documents on writing a policy brief.

Base your policy brief on these two particular deforestation issues occurring in different parts of the world:

“Deforestation is a particular concern in tropical rainforests because these forests are home to much of the world’s biodiversity.

For example, in the Amazon around 17% of the forest has been lost in the last 50 years, mostly due to forest conversion for cattle ranching.  Deforestation in this region is particularly rampant near more populated areas, roads and rivers, but even remote areas have been encroached upon when valuable mahogany, gold and oil are discovered.”

http://www.worldwildlife.org/threats/deforestation

 (Links to an external site.)

“On 11 December 2014, Forest Watch Indonesia released maps of the remaining forest cover in Indonesia’s most heavily forested provinces. The maps paint a dismal picture. Patches of green indicating forests are subject to overlapping mining and plantation permits.

In Kalimantan, for example, 78 per cent of the land is now owned by concession (or permit) holders, largely mining and palm oil companies. Real improvements to governance and action from important players, including large land-concession owners, are needed if Indonesia is to slow its current world record rate of forest loss, an indicator of the seventh Millennium Development Goal (MDG 7).”

http://www.insideindonesia.org/an-ongoing-environmental-challenge-2