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Public attitudes toward sustainable forest management: Opinions from forest-dependent communities in British Columbia

Journal of Ecosystems and Management

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Title Public attitudes toward sustainable forest management: Opinions from forest-dependent communities in British Columbia
 
Creator Harshaw, Howard W.
Sheppard, Stephen
Jeakins, Paul
 
Subject human dimensions; public advisory groups; public opinion surveys; public participation; sustainable forest management
 
Description Although public participation is a requirement of sustainable forest management (SFM), it can be difficult for forest managers to obtain broad levels of representation through traditional public participation mechanisms, such as open houses, information sessions, and public advisory groups (PAGs). Some of the difficulties stem from barriers to participation, (e.g., knowledge, time availability, accessibility, and household income). There is a need for social science tools, such as public opinion surveys, to complement existing approaches by soliciting the attitudes, beliefs, and perceptions of broad sections of the public: getting closer to “the silent majority.” We examine the opinions of residents of nine forest-dependent communities in British Columbia to better understand attitudes toward public participation in forest management decision making, beliefs about SFM and the appropriateness of certain trade-offs, and perceptions of the role of forest managers. Results suggest a need to develop better methods of engaging and communicating with people beyond the PAGs; to increase the public's knowledge of SFM; and to increase trust in forest companies as stewards of the forest.
 
Publisher Canadian Institute for Studies in Publishing Press
 
Contributor —
 
Date 2009-05-29
 
Type info:eu-repo/semantics/article
info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion
Peer-reviewed Article
 
Format application/pdf
 
Identifier http://jem-online.org/index.php/jem/article/view/422
 
Source Journal of Ecosystems and Management; Vol 10, No 2 (2009)
 
Language eng
 
Relation http://jem-online.org/index.php/jem/article/view/422/337