Book Description

This report provides a descriptive analysis of selected forest values, attitudes toward sustainable forest management, and knowledge and socioeconomic characteristics of four stakeholder groups in Alberta: the public, environmentalists, professional foresters, and forest-industry public advisory groups (PAGs). Data were collected by mail surveys in 1999. The groups had different socioeconomic characteristics and disparate value orientations and attitudes toward forest management. Members of the public and environmentalists were more supportive of the inherent worth of the forest, the rights of nature, and allowing natural processes to occur. These two groups also believed that timber supply and the inclusion of multiple benefits in forest management are inadequate, that forestry is damaging the environment, and that the public does not have enough input in forest management. Professional foresters and PAG members were more supportive of manipulating forests for economic benefit and human use and generally had a more optimistic view of the sustainability of forest management.