A Holistic Approach to Managing the Societal Impacts for a Nationa Forest in the Wildland-Urban Interface

摘要

Natural resource managers in the wildland-urban interface struggle with a variety of issues. In particular, land managers are becoming increasingly burdened with societal problems as a result of encroaching development and increased forest use. This article reports on a process used by the Ocala National Forest, Florida, to work through societal issues common in many US forests. Specifically, this article describes (1) the Ocala National Forest situation, (2) the workshop that drove the process, and(3) progress made after the workshop. Identified solutions required the development of long-term, collaborative strategies; however, the process showed that immediate and successful techniques can be identified and implemented when agency personnel use nontraditional decisionmaking strategies. Strengths of the process proved to be the ability to improve communication across administrative layers, engage new and existing partners in a process focused on solutions, and develop immediate solutions, which are designed to result in long-term improvements.