Public views on forest management: value orientation and forest dependency as indicators of diversity

Abstract

Classifying communities as forest dependent based on economic indicators implies that residents of these communities share a utilitarian view of forest management whereby resource extraction and economic benefits are the primary focus. In this study, we test this hypothesis by examining the relationship between forest dependency, value orientation, and views on forest management. Data were collected by mail survey from 1521 residents of the Province of New Brunswick, Canada, in 2007. We classify respondents based on levels of forest dependency of their area of residence and their forest value orientation. We examine variation in beliefs about forest management, goals of forest management, and public involvement across levels of forest dependency and forest value orientation. Results showed some differences among residents from regions with different levels of forest dependence. Considerably greater variation, however, occurred among forest value orientation clusters. This study suggests that regardless of the level of forest dependency, communities comprised a mix of value orientations and that examining populations based on level of forest dependency may mask a plurality of views on forest management within communities.