A SURVEY OF fOREST•MANAGEMENT INFORMATION NEEDS IN BRITISH COLUMBIA
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Date
1998-09-30
Authors
Gregory, Robin
Satterfield, Terre
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Decision Research
Abstract
This report presents the results of a survey of client needs that was conducted by Decision
Science Research Institute on behalf of the Southern Interior Forest Extension and
Research Partnership. The survey was designed to identify the primary information needs
of Partnership members; to define the key barriers limiting access to relevant information;
to determine the perceived quality of, and users' trust in, various sources of information;
and to understand better the opinions of Partnership clients regarding alternative presentation
formats and different options for the dissemination of selected information types.
Background research and extensive small-group discussions provided an initial framework
for the survey, which was pilot tested and then mailed to a random selection of
1,357 Partnership members in June, 1998. A total of 381 completed surveys (an overall
response rate of 28. l %) were obtained from a broadly representative sample of
Partnership members including provincial operations and policy personnel (from the
Ministry of Forests, the Ministry of Agriculture and Food, and the Ministry of Environment,
Lands, and Parks), provincial researchers (from the same agencies), timber
licensees, private consultants, and other (academic and federal government) researchers.
In addition, smaller samples were obtained from selected First Nation groups (Shuswap
Nation Tribal Cotmcil and the Okanagan Nation Alliance) and from nongovernmental
organizations (NGOs).
The survey results demonstrate broad agreement on the overall goals and objectives of an
extension service for the Southern Interior of the province. Emphasis is placed on getting
information effectively from experts or other reliable sources of information to potential
users and on the continued development of a responsive knowledge base. Recent changes
in forestry practices in the Province are shown to have resulted in a pressing need for
additional information relating to the application of sustainable forest practices, the
incorporation of First Nations in forest-management decisions, J.11d the need to achieve
on-the-ground practices that are scientifically defensible and socially, legally, and
ecologically viable. Survey results point to substantial disagreements among Partnership
clients regarding the priorities that should in future be assigned to these diverse extension
services. In addition, the results show striking differences in the perceptions of key
groups regarding the performance of extension services in focusing on the issues of
primary importance to Partnership clients, employing accessible presentation formats, and
utilizing appropriate dissemination technologies.
Description
88 pages
Keywords
forest-management, British Columbia, survey
Citation
Gregory, R., & Satterfield, T. (1998). A survey of forest-management information needs in British Columbia (Report No. 98-12). Eugene, OR: Decision Research.