Analyzing Public Inputs to Multiple Objective Decisions on National Forests Using Conjoint Analysis

Abstract

Faced with multiple objectives, national forest managers and planners need a means to solicit and analyze public preferences and values. A conjoint ranking survey was designed to solicit public preferences for various levels of timber harvesting, wildlife habitats, hiking trails, snowmobile use, and off-road-vehicle (ORV) access on the Green Mountain National Forest. The survey was completed by 76 respondents during public involvement meetings. An ordered probit model was used to estimate linear and quadratic main effects. Respondents preferred moderate levels of timber harvesting and snowmobile access and lower levels of ORV access. They favored a mixture of mature closed canopy and younger more open forests over either extreme and were somewhat indifferent toward extending the network of hiking trails. For. Sci. 44(3):421-428.