“Community and the Forest” Panel Forum Discussion
We know that many of you were unable to attend the Forest Plan Forum. Those who did attend had a great time discussing a variety of topics related to forest management. It was a very informative event. We hope that we can continue the discussions that the Forum stimulated in this online forum. I am creating a blog area for each panel.
We hope you will continue the open discussion from the “Community and the Forest” Panel here. Topics that were on the table for the panel included social and economic linkages, “natural heritage”, culture, change, rural development, range, recreation/tourism, timber and minerals, etc..
Each panelist shared their particular point of view prior to the general discussion. We hope that the panelists will take a few minutes and post a comment sharing their perspective with the broader blog community (many of which were unable to attend the Forum).
The “community and the forest” panel for the Forum was Craig Bigler, Dayle Flanigan, Dennis Stowell, Kay Blackwell, Lynn Stevens, Ralph Okerlund, Steve Daniels.
Questions posed to the panel from the other participants fell into the following topic areas:
• What types of trends are critical to look at in considering desired social and economic conditions?
• What vision do you have of the future for the forest and its connection with communities (Brian Bremner needs to share his donut analogy with the blog community, Brian?)?
• If continuing a certain social or economic activity would cause the loss of a species (plant or animal) should the activity continue?
• What quantifiable things can we agree upon?
• Whose voice about the social and economic desired conditions of the forest should count for more? Elected Officials? General Public?