Functional communities: A tool for national forest planning

Abstract

Working with residents of northern Wisconsin, the authors found 15 functional communities in and around the Chequamegon and Nicolet National Forests. Functional communities are geographic areas in which people share perceptions of and relationships to forests and natural resources. Several issues were raised by residents in all communities, including concern about development, high property taxes, day-use fees, maintaining access to natural resources, and maintaining the health and productivity of forest ecosystems. Forest planners will need to address these concerns.