The Maxwell Group, working as consultants to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Region 7, evaluated the effectiveness of the agency's outreach to private non-industrial forest landowners. The project's three main objectives were as follows:
1.) To determine what information or services non-industrial private forest landowners need in order to help them manage their woodlands to better achieve their objectives,
2.) To ascertain the extent to which the Department of Environmental Conservation Region 7 Division of Lands and Forests is currently providing these needed services and the effectiveness of these outreach efforts, and
3.) To identify methods for delivering these services to the public.
In order to accomplish these objectives, the Maxwell Group interviewed professionals involved in New York State forestry, conducted a telephone survey of non-industrial private forest landowners in Department of Environmental Conservation Region 7, and researched national trends in non-industrial forest stewardship programs.
The interviews with forestry professionals, conducted at the onset of the study, provided valuable suggestions on how to proceed with the telephone surveys and research. The forestry professionals advised the Group on identifying and locating the non-industrial private forest landowners in Department of Environmental Conservation Region 7, developing appropriate questions for the telephone surveys, and also made some recommendations of their own for improving the current practices. The telephone survey was designed to determine what non-industrial private forest landowners need from the Department of Environmental Conservation, who is currently participating in the programs, and whether the public is satisfied with the types of services offered and the methods used to deliver these services. Looking at programs in other states helped the Group identify innovative forestry management programs and outreach methods for consideration for use in Region 7.
From this research, the Group was able to provide Department of Environmental Conservation Region 7 with the following recommendations:
Organizational Recommendations:
1. Identify goals and objectives
2. Inventory existing information
3. Develop and maintain a database
Program Recommendations:
1. Coordinate and cooperate with other organizations
2. Diversify outreach tools
3. Expand methods of service delivery
4. Reallocate resources to programs of interest to NIPF landowners
Future Research Recommendations:
1. Conduct a similar study using a statistically significant sample of the population
2. Conduct research to understand landowner attitudes and values
3. Evaluate effectiveness of programs in meeting DEC and landowner goals
