There is a critical need for multilingual public contact skills on staff. User expectations are often based upon cultural experience gained in other countries. The proportion of users who are recent immigrants are high in comparison to that of the non-urban National Forest. Different cultures have different resource ethics, which often conflict with Forest Service resource practices. The user population is extremely diverse.
Representation is significant from several to many, cultural and ethnic groups.
We're under the Urban Microscope Urban National Forests is scrutinized much more due to high visibility. Media exposure is greater. Relationships with special interests, partners, political entities and the media are complex, numerous and continuous. Interest groups have more access to FS decisions and activities, and therefore require more input. This is typified by a high incidence of appeals, FOIA requests and challenges to the decisions made by line and staff.