Breaking trail through mountains – forest policy implementation case studies

Abstract

Contemporary forest policy is attuned to present and anticipated future societal needs and to long-term dynamics of ecosystems. Policy regimes across North America tend to accommodate degrees of adaptive management to account for future uncertainty. The metaphor of a hiker in a mountain range illustrates the complexity of policy implementation and the need for tools and actions to manage in a changing environment. Case studies from British Columbia, Ontario, Oregon, and Virginia illustrate specific policy regimes and characterize a common "enabling" role necessary for effective policy implementation. Two key enabling functions emerge: the development of analytical tools and the development of educational programs directed to specific needs of persons charged with policy implementation. Organizational capacity in knowledge transfer and extension is instrumental in supporting policy implementation in all four cases. Key words: forest policy, implementation, extension, knowledge transfer, enabling, case studies, policy regimes