Public participation in forestry research planning

Abstract

The National Program of Research for Forests and Associated Rangelands was a research planning effort sponsored by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the National Association of State Universities and Land Grant Colleges. During the NPRFAR, public participation was solicited to aid in the formulation of a research program. Delegates from regional and national organizations were the source of public input at the NPRFAR National Conference. Conference planners solicited the input from organizations that had an interest in forestry matters and strong constituency support. Nonparametric rank correlation analysis indicated that the National Conference delegates represented the research priorities of the population from which they were chosen. However, correlation analysis indicated that the research priorities of the delegates were not reflected in the final allocation of scientist years to research. Thus, a means is needed by which public input may be reliably translated into public policy.