Forest Policy Research: An Examination of Research Needs 1

Abstract

The United States has a long and colorful history of political activity which has been important to the evolution of national policies directed at forest resources. Forest policies are the end product of political processes. Forest policies and the means by which they are established and implemented determine the extent to which forest resources contribute to economic and social well-being of a vast number of individuals. Research on institutions important to the development of sound forest policies stems from a nagging suspicion that the manner in which public and private agencies are organized and the rules under which they operate has much to do with often voiced displeasure with certain forest policies. Research on the nature of popular participation in the development and implementation of forest policies has been extremely limited. Forest policy as a field of research offers an unusually large number of challenges to those in its pursuit.