# Presentation: 535874

## BRINGING THE PUBLIC’S VOICE TO THE TABLE

**BRINGING THE PUBLIC’S VOICE TO THE TABLE**
- 		Ken Cordell
- 				Senior Scientist
- 				Forest Service Research
- 				Athens, GA
- www.srs.fs.fed.us/trends
- kcordell@fs.fed.us		    	              Graphics by Shela Mou

## Slide 2

## Slide 3

## 2001:INTERNET, STOCKS, HONDA SUVs, BUSH/ANWR, WEALTH, INTERSTATES, JOBS, GROWTH, ADVENTURE RECREATION, MERGERS

**2001:****INTERNET, STOCKS, HONDA SUVs, BUSH/ANWR, WEALTH, INTERSTATES, JOBS, GROWTH, ADVENTURE RECREATION, MERGERS**

## Demographic Percentages: 1960 and 2000

- _1960_			_2000_

**Age****	****	****	****	**_**Male**_**	**_**Female**_**	****	**_**Male**_**	**** **_**Female**_
**  ****All****	****	****	****	****47.9****	**** 52.1****	****	****48.4****	****  51.6**
**    ****12-17****	****	****	****   7.3****	****    7.0****	****	****   5.3****	****     5.0**
**    ****18-24****	****	****	****   5.3****	****    6.2****	****	****   5.9****	****     5.7**
**    ****25-44****	****	****	****  16.6****	****   18.1****	****	****  17.9****	****    18.2**
**    ****45-64****	****	****	****  13.4****	****   14.3****	****	****  13.0****	****    13.8**
**    ****65+****	****	****	****	****   5.3****	****    6.5****	****	****   6.3****	****     8.9**

**Residence in MSA****	****	****	****60.5****	****	****	****80.2**
**   ****Over 1 million****	****	****	****  26.1****	****	****	****  21.4**
**   ****Under 1 million****	****	****	****  34.5****	****	****	****  58.8**
_**Not**_** in MSA****	****	****	****	****39.5****	****	****	****19.8**

**Race****	****	****White****	****	****	****89.5****	****	****	****82.9**
**	****	****Non-White****	****	****10.5****	****	****	****17.1**

## (Continued) Demographic Percentages: 1960 and 2000

- (Continued) Demographic Percentages: 1960 and 2000

- _1960_			_2000_

**Family Income**** (1998$)**
**  ****(Note: 45.54 million U.S. families in 1960.  71.55 million families in 1998.)**
**Percentiles**
**   ****20****th****	****	****	****	****     14,093****	****	****     21,600**
**   ****40****th**** ****	****	****	****     24,298****	****	****     37,692**
**   ****60****th****	****	****	****	****     32,215****	****	****     56,020**
**   ****80****th****	****	****	****	****     44,547****	****	****     83,693**
**   ****95****th****	****  ****	****	****	****     ****68,521****	****	****    145,199**

**Educational Attainment, Age 25 and Over**
**  ****8****th**** grade or less****	****	****	****37.5****	****	****	**** 7.4**
**  ****9-11****th**** grade****	****	****	****	****18.5****	****	****	**** 9.7**
**  ****High school graduate****	****	****27.1****	****	****	****33.8**
**  ****Some college****	****	****	****	**** ****9.1****	****	****	****24.7**
**  ****College degree or higher****	****	**** ****7.7****	****	****	****24.4**

## Slide 7

## Slide 8

## The Geography of Projected Change in U.S. Population, 2000-2020

**The Geography of Projected Change in U.S. Population, 2000-2020**

## The Changing American Society

-  **About 1 million new immigrants per year**
** **_**More people**_**:****	****1990****	****	****248 mm**
**	****	****	****2000****	****	****275 mm**
**	****	****	****2020****	****	****325 mm**
**	****	****	****2050****	****	****404 mm**
**	****	****	****2075****	****	****481 mm**
**	****	****	****2100****	****	****571 mm**
** **_**Getting older**_**:  Median age 35********38 (by 2020)**
** **_**Changing ethnicities**_** by 2050:**
**	****	****Anglo Americans ****	****	****76%********50%**
**	****	****African Americans****	**** ****	****12% ********15%**
**	****	****Hispanic Americans****	****  9% ********21%**
**	****	****Asian Americans****	****	****  4% ********11%**

## WHAT DOES ALL THIS CHANGE MEAN FOR OUR PUBLIC LANDS AND THEIR MANAGEMENT?

## IF THE “PUBLIC” WAS AT THE DECISION TABLE, WHAT WOULD THEY SAY?

## NATIONAL SURVEY ON RECREATION AND THE ENVIRONMENT—NSRE 2000

## NSRE 2000

**A sample of over 50,000 households, from the Keys to ANWR**
**Includes individuals 16 years or older**
**Ties back to the first National Recreation Survey by the Outdoor Recreation Resources Review Commission in 1960 **
**Is the Nation’s on-going recreation survey, the 8th**
**Interagency sponsorship—USFS, NOAA, ERS, EPA, NPS, BLM.**
**Others involved, National Scenic Byways Program, Heritage, Wilderness, Bicycle Safety, The Heinz Center**
**State of the Art delivery—Internet, books and reports**

## ENVIRONMENTAL ATTITUDES

## Voting on the Most Important Issue

- Reducing Crime			29		23

- Reforming Health Care		22		22

- Saving Social Security		21		21

- Protecting the Environment	16		23

- Reducing the Public Debt		  9		10

- 	Don’t Know			  3		  1

**First****	****	****Second**
**Choice****	****Choice**

## “They (American’s surveyed) rank the environment third on their list of critical public issues requiring government support, just behind crime and education. 60% feel the government spends too little on the environment”. (National Opinion Research Center, Chicago, Ill., 2000)

## Spending on the Environment

**Too Much****	****	****7%**

**Too Little****	****	****49%**

**About Right****	****	****     28%**

**(Don’t Know)****	****	****	****(15%)**

## Humans Were Meant to Rule Over Nature

**Humans Were Meant to Rule Over Nature**

- 14%
- Strongly Agree

- 15%
- Somewhat Agree

- 19%
- Somewhat Disagree

- 42%
- Strongly Disagree

**29%**

**61%**
- (6% Neutral)

## Slide 20

## Objectives for Public Lands

**Objectives for Public Lands**
**(Percent saying important to very important)**

**Source: NSRE/Shields VOBA Module**

**Providing resources to help local communities (51%)**

## Public Land Management Objectives  MOST  Desired by the Public

**Public Land Management Objectives  **_**MOST**_**  Desired by the Public**

-  **Conserve and protect natural sources of ****water**** (91.4%)**
** ****Better information for users, such as ****respect**** for wildlife and trail etiquette (87.2%)**
** ****Protect natural ****ecosystems**** and wildlife habitats (86.0%)**
** ****More use of ****volunteers**** for resource protection and improvement (85.6%)**
** ****Better information for users about ****use impacts**** (81.1%)**
** ****Consistent ****policy**** for guiding resource uses and management (76.0%)**

## Public Land Management Objectives  LEAST Desired by the Public

**Public Land Management Objectives  **_**LEAST**_** Desired by the Public**

** ****Develop more trails for motorized uses (28.9%)**
** ****Expand commercial recreation uses (28.2%)**
** ****Make special use permits easier to get (27.3%)**
** ****Trade public lands for private lands to consolidate public holdings (22.1%)**
** ****Expand access to motorized vehicles (19.8%)**
** ****Develop more paved roads (19.2%)**

## WILDERNESS ATTITUDES AND VALUES

## A BASIC QUESTION:IS WILDERNESS STILL APPROPRIATE AND WANTED BY TODAY’SU. S. SOCIETY?

## Counties with Wilderness Acreage

**Counties with Wilderness Acreage**

## Public Views on Wilderness

**Public Views on Wilderness**

- 	Nationally about 1/2 of American’s 16+ report knowing about the NWPS
-  	Only 4.4% feel we have put too many acres into the NWPS:
- 		-  Not enough, 52.6%
- 		-  About right, 26.9%
- 		-  Too much, 4.4%
- 		-  Not sure, 15.4%

## What Americans Value About Wilderness

_**Percentage Saying It Is**_

**Protecting air quality****	****	****	****	****58.4****	****	****1.5**
**Protecting water quality****	****	****	****	****55.9****	****	****1.5**
**Protecting wildlife habitat****	****	****	****52.7****	****	****3.1**
**Protecting endangered species****	****	****	****49.8****	****	****5.0**
**Legacy for future generations****	****	****	****49.1****	****	****3.1**
**Preserving unique ecosystems and genetics****	****44.3****	****	****5.1**
**Future option to visit****	****	****	****	****37.5****	****	****7.1**
**Just knowing it is preserved****	****	****	****36.9****	****	****6.4**
**Providing scenic beauty****	****	****	****	****35.4****	****	****5.5**
**Providing recreation opportunities****	****	****27.8****	****	****7.2**
**Providing spiritual inspiration****	****	****	****25.9****	****        16.7**
**Undisturbed area for scientific study****	****	****23.9****	****        11.6**
**Providing income for tourism industry****	****	**** 9.7****	****        33.5**

## TOP 5 VALUES

**TOP 5 VALUES**

** ****Protecting air quality**
** ****Protecting water quality**
** ****Protecting wildlife habitat**
** ****Protecting T&E species**
** ****Legacy for future generations**
**      ****(By Majority Vote)**

## Lowest 4 Values

**Lowest 4 Values**

** ****Providing recreation opportunities**
** ****Providing spiritual inspiration**
** ****Using areas for scientific study**
** ****Stimulate income for tourism ****	****industry**
**       ****(All Ballots Counted)**

## Year 2000 Wilderness Area Visits on National Forests

***Year 2000 Wilderness Area Visits on National Forests***

_**Region               Visits (1000’s)**_
**1****	****  400**
**1,630**
**2,280**
**1,640**
**1,040**
**2,780**
**  ****670**
**1,220**
_**1,450**_
**  *****TOTAL             13,110***

**Source: National Recreation Use Monitoring Study, 1/24/01**

## OUTDOORRECREATIONPARTICIPATION

## Activities Rising Fastest

- By Percentage (1982 to 2001)
- (16 or older)

**	**_**% Growth**_**	**_**No. in 2000**_
**Bird watching****	****	****235.9****	****	**** 71.2**
**Hiking****	****	****195.9****	****	**** 73.1**
**Backpacking****	****	****165.9****	****	**** 23.4**
**Snow-mobiling****	****	****107.5****	****	**** 66.9**
**Walking****	****	**** 91.2****	****	****179.0**
**Off-road driving****	****	**** 89.2****	****	**** 27.9**
**Primitive camping****	****	**** 81.9****	****	**** 32.2**
**Developed camping****	****	**** 76.0****	****	**** 52.8**
**Downhill skiing****	****	**** 66.9****	****	**** 17.7**
**Swimming/river,**
**   ****lake or ocean****	****	**** 64.4****	****	**** 78.1**

## Activities Adding the Most Participants 16 or older, 1982-2001

_**Activities Adding the Most Participants 16 or older, 1982-2001**_

**	****	****	**_**Millions**_
**	**_**Growth**_**	**_**No. in 2000**_
**Walking****	****	****85.4****	****	****179.0**
**Bird watching****	****	****50.0****	****	****71.2**
**Hiking****	****	****48.4****	****	****73.1**
**Swimming/river,**
**  ****lake, or ocean****	****	****36.4****	****	****92.9**
**Sightseeing****	****	****32.7****	****	****114.0**
**Picnicking****	****	****31.8****	****	****116.6**
**Bicycling****	****	****27.4****	****	****83.9**
**Developed camping****	****	****22.8****	****	****52.8**
**Motor boating****	****	****17.8****	****	****51.4**
**Off-road driving****	****	****17.3****	****	****36.7**
**Backpacking****	****	****14.6****	****	****23.4**

## ACCOUNTING FOR DIFFERENCES

## COMPARING IMPORTANCE OF PUBLIC LAND OBJECTIVES BETWEEN ETHNIC GROUPS

**Conserving/**
**Protecting sources of water**

**Designating more wilderness areas**

**Trail systems for non-motorized recreation**

**Expanding access for motorized vehicles**

## Should designate more Wilderness within Federal lands

**	****	****	****   ****Important/**
**	****	****	**_**Very Important**_
**Urban****	****	****	****62%**
**Suburban****	****	****	****56%**
**Rural****	****	****	****47%**

## Should designate more Wilderness within Federal lands

**	****	****	****   ****Important/**
**	****	****	**_**Very Important**_
**White****	****	****	****59%**
**Black****	****	****	****49%**
**Hispanic****	****	****	****56%**
**Asian****	****	****	****75%**

## Should designate more Wilderness within Federal lands

**	****	****	****   ****Important/**
**	****	****	**_**Very Important**_
**North****	****	****	****66%**
**South****	****	****	****55%**
**Great Plains****	****	****50%**
**Rockies****	****	****	****59%**
**Pacific Coast****	****	****59%**

## REACHING OUT TO LISTEN, INFORM AND INVOLVE

## Young

**Young**
**New England**
**Wind Surfers**

**Young**
**Outdoor Lads**

**Golden Years**
**Seniors**

**The Urban**
**Beach Boys**

**The Noreaster**
**Musclers**

**Back to**
**Nature Boomers**

**Middle America**
**Hunt-N-Fish**
**Men’s Club**

**The Gen-X**
**Ski Equals**

## The Urban Beach Boys (4.4%)

**The Urban Beach Boys (4.4%)**

**Diving, Surfing, Snorkeling, Kayaking, Sailing, Saltwater Fishing, and Jet Skiing**
**Active in a lot of activities, except hunting and fresh water fishing**
**Two-thirds white, Asian/Pacific Islanders well represented, under 35, but not foreign born**
**South Atlantic and Pacific Coast**
**Regularly like to go to movies, use internet at home, participate in environmental groups, invest, and attend classes**
**Strongly advocate wilderness preservation**
**More strongly believe than most Americans that humans are abusing the earth, on a course for ecological catastrophe and the balance of nature is delicate**

## Young New England Wind Surfers (1.3%)

**Young New England Wind Surfers (1.3%)**

**Wind surfing, kayaking, surfing,                  **
**   ****non-motorized winter activities,**
**   ****diving, snorkeling, sailing**
**More active than most Americans in **_**all**_** activities**
**85% white; two-thirds male; under 25; urban; but, **_**not**_** activity choices of other ethnicities, those over 55, ruralites, or foreign born**
**New England strongly represented, also Pacific Coast**
**Regularly into adult learning, environmental groups, movies, the country club scene, second homes, and volunteering to work with youth**
**Value preserving wilderness, especially for scientific value**
**More strongly believe environmental crisis is greatly exaggerated, even though we are nearing the earth’s limits**

## The Golden Years Seniors

**The Golden Years Seniors**
**(45.8%)**

**Not very active in outdoor activities, except for a bit of walking, picnicking, family gatherings, and sightseeing**
**Almost 60% female, blacks and Hispanic well represented, over 45, especially over 65, mostly urban**
**Regularly attend religious services, eat out, cook at home, and especially spend time with grandchildren**
**Not much aware of NWPS, show more support for using wilderness for recreation, tourism promotion, and science**
**More strongly believe human ingenuity will insure the earth, Humans can modify the environment to meet needs, Humans were meant to rule over nature, Humans can control nature, and the environmental crisis is exaggerated**

## Back to Nature Boomers (25.8%)

**Backpacking, camping, visiting wilderness, gathering mushrooms/berries, trout fishing, hiking, viewing/learning, mountain biking**
**Not into hunting, surfing, motorized activities or snow sports**
**More females than males, white and Hispanic, middle aged, proportionate urban/rural**
**Mountain West and Pacific Coast well represented**
**Read environmental magazines, youth volunteering, donate to charities**
**Aware of the NWPS, cross-section of American’s values regarding wilderness**
**Believe humans are abusing the earth, the balance is delicate, and we are on a course for catastrophe**

**Back to Nature Boomers**** ****(25.8%)**

## The Young Outdoor Lads (0.5%)

**The Young Outdoor Lads**** ****(0.5%)**

**Bird hunting, scuba, small game hunting,              snorkeling, big game hunting, saltwater fishing, camping**
**Very active across a large number of activities**
**90% male, 90% white, American Indians well represented, mostly under 35, not an activity profile chosen by foreign born**
**Great Plains and Southern**
**Members of conservation groups, have vacation property, read nature magazines, attend movies**
**Wilderness is a recreation resource, it’s a science preserve, and provides future recreation options**
**While we are nearing the earths limits, these Lads believe human ingenuity will assure the earth’s future**

## The Noreaster Musclers (7.3%)

**The Noreaster Musclers ****(7.3%)**

**Cross-country skiing, rowing, kayaking, canoeing, downhill skiing, snowmobiling, and snowboarding**
**They don’t hunt or drive off-road**
**Equal male/female, whites, young to middle aged (not seniors), urban, from New England and the Prairie States**
**Members of conservation groups, use the internet at home, attend concerts, have vacation property, invest, belong to a country club**
**2/3 aware of wilderness; back preservation, not use**
**More belief that we are abusing the earth, the balance of nature is delicate and we may be heading for disaster**

## Middle America   Hunt-n-Fish Men’s Club (6.1%)

**Middle America   Hunt-n-Fish Men’s Club ****(6.1%)**

**Hunt, fish, motorized, camp, motorboat, canoe**
**Don’t participate in beach activities**
**Predominantly male, white, under 40, U.S. citizen, rural, Prairie and Southern**
**Belong to conservation group, read nature magazines, own a business, have pets, woodworking, and home improvements**
**More utilitarian than rest of public**
**More strongly believe human ingenuity will insure the earth, humans were meant to rule over the earth, and environmental crisis is exaggerated**

## The Gen-X Ski Equals (8.8%)

**The Gen-X Ski Equals ****(8.8%)**

**Water ski, jet ski, rafting, snowmobiling, snowboarding, motor activities, downhill skiing, rowing, canoeing**
**They don’t do beach activities nor viewing/learning**
**Equal male/female, white, young (under 30), U.S. born, Midwestern**
**Good cross-section of American lifestyles, except greater use of internet and country clubs**
**Less aware of NWPS, lean toward preservation instead of utilization**
**Mirror most American’s beliefs that we are abusing the earth and may be heading for disaster**

## Young

**Young**
**New England**
**Wind Surfers**

**Young**
**Outdoor Lads**

**Golden Years**
**Seniors**

**The Urban**
**Beach Boys**

**The Noreaster**
**Musclers**

**Back to**
**Nature Boomers**

**Middle America**
**Hunt-N-Fish**
**Men’s Club**

**The Gen-X**
**Ski Equals**

## REACHING OUT TO LISTEN, INFORM AND INVOLVE--BRINGING THE PUBLIC VOICE TO THE TABLE

## NATIONAL SURVEY ON RECREATION AND THE ENVIRONMENT—NSRE 2000

## SOUTHERN FOREST SCIENCE CONFERENCE

**SOUTHERN FOREST SCIENCE CONFERENCE**

*****************************************
**Contributions of Forest Science to Sustainable Forestry**
**Renaissance Waverly Hotel in Atlanta, Georgia**
**Nov. 26-28, 2001**
- _[www.southernforestscience.net](http://www.southernforestscience.net/)_
**Abstracts due March 15**