Objective 3 Projects

Objective 3 - Informed and Engaged Management

Jesse Abrams, Pete Bettinger, Leslie Boby, Krista Merry, and Jacek Siry

Encompass stakeholder actions, motivations, and values to inform the development and implementation of optimized data-driven management systems that increase the capacity of forest production and ecosystem services.

• Task 3.1 Stakeholder Perceptions: Develop and conduct surveys of foresters, landowners, and forest businesses concerning current forest practices and environmental challenges, and their interests in ecosystem services and alternative future scenarios.

  • • A survey to forest business owners across the U.S. South has been completed regarding engagement with ecosystem markets and conservation . Results have been analyzed and are under review with Ecosystem Services. 

    • A second survey of mills in the South has also been completed. The focus of this survey is to understand mill owner  engagement and preferences related to ecosystem services. Analysis of the results are ongoing with plans for a second journal article publication

    • Objective 3 members have been actively working with the University of Maine to better understand forestry professionals' perceptions of advanced forest technology and to develop landowner typologies that may inform stakeholder needs.

    • Objective 3 members have been engaged with Purdue to analyze forest owner survey results focusing on the familiarity with and support for different forms of forest inventory and measurement technology. 

• Task 3.2 Scenario Development: Co-develop (with stakeholders) "what-if" scenarios to examine current and future risk perceptions from future weather patterns, available markets, or pests and the degree of support for forest management strategies.

  • • Landowner typologies will help inform management approaches that will be fed into scenario development.  

    • A survey conducted of registered / certified foresters across the eastern United States will also help define forest management simulations. This group has provided insights into the amount of land they manage and when management activities are likely to occur.

• Task 3.3 Focused Outreach: Assess end-user satisfaction through staggered, in-person or virtual participatory workshops with stakeholders across subregions to assess project outcomes and the general usability of the developed tools. 

  • • Focused outreach activities are currently in the planning stages. More activity on this task will begin in the near future. This will include the development of materials and workshops for stakeholders and will solicit their input into the tools developed through PERSEUS. These focused outreach products will be tested by stakeholders, revised where necessary, and distributed through strategic outlets. 

• Task 3.4 Technology Application: Conduct training sessions for stakeholders on tool and system use.

  • • Objective 3 researchers are focused on identifying stakeholders for tools developed by the PERSEUS team and providing tools that will be beneficial and adopted by stakeholders. This task will require a dedicated Extension specialist at Purdue University with the support from UGA Extension professionals. As the project progresses and new technologies are developed, training sessions will be important for informing improvements to these technologies and ensure their adoption.