GOALS
In this first stage of CRAFT, you have two principal goals: (1) identify and clarify relevant management objectives, and (2) begin building a cause and effect model of the various factors involved in the resource management problem of interest.
You will structure objectives into a hierarchical classification scheme, known as an objectives hierarchy , that portrays inter-relationships among objectives. A well-constructed objectives hierarchy ensures that your risk assessment is relevant to an inclusive mix of stakeholders.
By building a conceptual model, you begin to identify the cause and effect relationships that chart a path between management actions and objectives. Your conceptual model is important ground work for a formal project effects analysis in CRAFT's third stage, III. Modeling Effects.
Broad management objectives often are well established by tradition, consensus or mandate. Forest objectives often are too vague to be practical, however, making both management and monitoring difficult. Lack of specificity is a problem whenever objectives conflict or compete. For example, dueling short and long term objectives typify fire and fuels management. In order for tradeoffs to be conceptualized and measured, objectives must be clearly and precisely defined. Such objectives provide the focus needed to conduct a comparative risk assessment.
For an overview of Specifying Objectives, go to the Wizard Outline and Tables page.
STEPS
I.A. Describe the Situation: The CRAFT process begins with a concise description of a management or resource problem, decisions options that apply, and the larger context of the problem. These compose a situation description. A good situation description also helps identify relevant ecosystem trends or disturbances and previously established goals and directions for the planning area.
I.B. Describe the Problem: This step requires you to clarify project objectives from the context of desirable outcomes or conditions, and begin building a conceptual model of relationships between actions and outcomes. Your initial conceptual model will be used and refined over several subsequent steps.
I.C. Hierarchically Structure Objectives: This step clarifies why outcomes are important and how actions and outcomes are linked to stakeholder values. Objectives will be organized into a structure similar to an organizational chart, with broader, higher-level objectives supported by multiple specific, lower-level objectives.
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Proceed to I.A. Describe the Situation 
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