Views of old forestry and new among reference groups in the Pacific Northwest

Abstract

A public opinion survey was conducted in Washington and Oregon. It was not a representative poll sample but instead sampled groups of people favoring forest production, those favoring forest protection, and others not aligned with either of these viewpoints. There is strong consensus across groups regarding the unpopularity of established forestry methods and the need to regulate clearcutting. The weight of the sampled groups' opinions indicated that replanting and hiding clearcuts are not enough to make them acceptable, that New Forestry should not be practiced in old growth, and that foresters should attend more to wildlife. There was no clear weight of opinion that forest harvests be eliminated or clearcutting be banned. There was passionate distrust of foresters among many protectionists and nonaligned respondents, but most of the same people support New Forestry intentions. New Forestry offers a potentially more politically acceptable and stable basis for public forestry practice and policy. West. J. Appl. For. 17(4):173-182.