Some level of planning is required to develop any ecosystem project. The simplest planning process can be stated in two steps:
1. Identify what needs to be done
2. Determine how to do it.
At the other end of complexity, a Problem-Solving Approach to Resource Management was designed by Barrett (1985) with 19 steps. While ecosystem projects are usually more complex than those involving single resources, some process intermediate between these two extremes will likely work best.
Two
intermediate options will be discussed. The major option, around which Project
Development is structured, is the planning
process
that has been used successfully in the Corps of Engineers for years. The second
option
is the coarse filter - fine filter approach to natural resources, which can
be used within the Corps planning process or stand alone. The steps by Barrett
(1985) are included here for information 