title: Modelling associations between public understanding, engagement and forest conditions in the Inland Northwest, USA.
abstract: Opinions about public lands and the actions of private non-industrial forest owners in the western United States play important roles in forested landscape management as both public and private forests face increasing risks from large wildfires, pests and disease. This work presents the responses from two surveys, a random-sample telephone survey of more than 1500 residents and a mail survey targeting owners of parcels with 10 or more acres of forest. These surveys were conducted in three counties (Wallowa, Union, and Baker) in northeast Oregon, USA. We analyze these survey data using structural equation models in order to assess how individual characteristics and understanding of forest management issues affect perceptions about forest conditions and risks associated with declining forest health on public lands. We test whether forest understanding is informed by background, beliefs, and experiences, and whether as an intervening variable it is associated with views about forest conditions on publicly managed forests. Individual background characteristics such as age, gender and county of residence have significant direct or indirect effects on our measurement of understanding. Controlling for background factors, we found that forest owners with higher self-assessed understanding, and more education about forest management, tend to hold more pessimistic views about forest conditions. Based on our results we argue that self-assessed understanding, interest in learning, and willingness to engage in extension activities together have leverage to affect perceptions about the risks posed by declining forest conditions on public lands, influence land owner actions, and affect support for public policies. These results also have broader implications for management of forested landscapes on public and private lands amidst changing demographics in rural communities across the Inland Northwest where migration may significantly alter the composition of forest owner goals, understanding, and support for various management actions.
authors: Environmental Studies Program, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado, United States of America; Carsey School of Public Policy, University of New Hampshire, Durham, New Hampshire, United States of America.
authors: Joel
authors: J
authors: Hartter
authors: Department of Geography and Geosciences, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky, United States of America.
authors: Forrest R
authors: FR
authors: Stevens
authors: Carsey School of Public Policy, University of New Hampshire, Durham, New Hampshire, United States of America; Department of Sociology, University of New Hampshire, Durham, New Hampshire, United States of America.
authors: Lawrence C
authors: LC
authors: Hamilton
authors: Department of Natural Resources and the Environment, University of New Hampshire, Durham, New Hampshire, United States of America.
authors: Russell G
authors: RG
authors: Congalton
authors: Carsey School of Public Policy, University of New Hampshire, Durham, New Hampshire, United States of America; Department of Natural Resources and the Environment, University of New Hampshire, Durham, New Hampshire, United States of America.
authors: Mark J
authors: MJ
authors: Ducey
authors: Oregon State University Extension Service, La Grande, Oregon, United States of America.
authors: Paul T
authors: PT
authors: Oester
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003256:Community Participation / Q000523:psychology*; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D005260:Female; D005390:Fires; D065928:Forests; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015233:Models, Statistical; D009922:Oregon; D010067:Ownership; D010465:Perception; D018570:Risk Assessment; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult