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

SUBMITTER: Hartter J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4324782 | biostudies-literature | 2015

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature