Potential use of electronic information for natural resource management by private landowners in Texas

Abstract

A mail survey of Texas' private landowners was conducted in the fall of 1996 to assess the potential use of electronic information sources as a tool for natural resource management. Eight hundred private landowners in rural communities were asked to respond to the survey. The outcome of this study is a recommendation to the Texas Agricultural Extension Service on additional methods of information dissemination for outreach and education as it relates to natural resource management. Respondents reported problems with current information sources and access to information through traditional mechanisms (one-on-one contact and handouts). Computer owners were more likely to use electronic media and were more familiar with electronic data then were non-computer owners. In regards to potential adoption of information technologies as a media for information, landowners reported concerns about electronic information and its accessibility to the public at large, accuracy of data, and government control of data. For overall natural resource management independent of medium of presentation, findings suggest that rural landowners have information needs beyond the data and information that is currently available through existing sources. Those needs are not being met because of the lack of available data and the complexity of information that landowners need for natural resource management. The recommendation to TAEX is to continue efforts to utilize information technologies such as the Internet for outreach and education efforts. For natural resource management, the Internet may be the most appropriate medium for distribution of information because of the large amounts of data and its suitability to a Geographic Information System technology that are currently being integrated into the Internet. Finally, provisions should be made to make available appropriate hardware, software, and staff training to host computer resources in as many public access areas as possible to make available information technology tools to those who do not have home computers, or who need assistance interpreting data.