Effects of presenting forest simulation results on the forest values and attitudes of forestry professionals and other forest users in Central Labrador

Abstract

This research tested whether demonstration of the long term effect of different forest management scenarios in a large forested area changes people's forest values and attitudes. Forestry professionals and other forest users in Central Labrador were shown simulation results of three alternative forest management scenarios illustrating possible long term effects on various indicators. Forest values and attitudes towards forestry were measured before and after the presentation. Our conception of values and attitudes is based on the cognitive hierarchy model of human behaviour which states that values are more enduring and more difficult to change than attitudes. It was thus hypothesized that attitudes would change but not values and that change in forestry professionals would be less than in other forest users since foresters are trained to think about long-term effects and large-scale processes of forest management scenarios. We also hypothesized that a greater number of people would have an opinion on forest management after the presentation. All three hypotheses were partially supported by the results. The results indicated that some attitude change occurred, but that values also changed somewhat. Most of the significant changes occurred when persons with no clear opinion on several forest-related questions formed an opinion. Long-term, landscape simulation results provide valuable information and enhance understanding of both forestry professionals and other forest users. However, being provided the same information, the two groups learned different things. While forest users gained more confidence in the current forest management plan and were motivated to further participate, professionals learned more specific things. This reflects differences between technical and local knowledge.

Residents’ support for wolf and bear conservation: the moderating influence of knowledge

“…It is generally believed that a high level of knowledge about a species leads to more positive attitudes (Kellert 1985;Bath and Buchanan 1989;Ericsson and Heberlein 2003;Balčiauskas et al 2010). The acquisition of new information could result in an attitude change for those individuals with low levels of knowledge (Petty and Cacioppo 1986;Prislin 1996;Berninger et al 2009). However, a high level of knowledge can lead to resistance in attitude change and may reinforce already formed attitudes (Petty and Cacioppo 1986;Kellert et al 1996;Prislin 1996;Berninger et al 2009).…”

“…The acquisition of new information could result in an attitude change for those individuals with low levels of knowledge (Petty and Cacioppo 1986;Prislin 1996;Berninger et al 2009). However, a high level of knowledge can lead to resistance in attitude change and may reinforce already formed attitudes (Petty and Cacioppo 1986;Kellert et al 1996;Prislin 1996;Berninger et al 2009). …”

Public participation: a need of forest planning

“…The study by Berninger et al (2009) states that the consequences of different management options should be discussed and effectively communicated to improve the attitudes of the locals towards forestry. This will improve the understanding of the complexity of the task of managing a big forest area with socio-economic and environmental criteria and increasing their confidence on forest professionals.…”

Modelling Landscape-level Effects of Reduced Herbicide Use in Two Forests in Northern Ontario

“…However, generating and presenting model results is insufficient to increase understanding; "the target audience must have confidence in the results, rather than blind trust or unwarranted scepticism, and the knowledge of how to interpret them" (Fall et al 2001). Understanding modelling assumptions and inputs can help both forestry professionals and the pubic to have confidence in the outcomes (Fall et al 2001, Berninger et al 2009). Involving stakeholder groups in the process, from model development through to discussion of the results, could promote broader understanding of the choices, decisions, and resulting outcomes (Wyatt et al 2011).…”

“…Simulations can provide valuable information to both forestry professionals and other forest users (Berninger et al 2009). For example, contrasting scenarios have been used to investigate policy changes for land and water use (Baker et al 2004), wildlife habitat suitability (Brown et al 2007, Rempel et al 2007, and biodiversity values (Doyon andDuinker 2003, Van Damme et al 2003).…”