(70) Enhancing the Interaction Between Forest Landowners and Resource Professionals

Elizabeth A. Kerlin, and James C. Finley - Penn State School of Forest Resources, Natural Resources Extension University Park, Pennsylvania

Concurrent Session: D4:  Valuing Stakeholder Experiences and Knowledge

Pennsylvania may have the largest number of private forest landowners (PFLs) in the nation. Just under three-quarters of a million PFLs control 12.5 million acres, nearly 70 percent, of the state’s forested lands. Sheer numbers mean that natural resource professionals are unable to meet the needs of everyone, nor are we finding appropriate entry to develop well-informed and well-intentioned resource owners.

The current model relies on natural resource professionals to serve as the experts in resource management. In this capacity, they may listen to the issues, but devise the solutions from their knowledge set. The resulting solution may not fit stakeholders’ needs as their capacity or experiences may suggest alternative approaches. As a result, the expert proposed solutions are often ignored or poorly implemented. The Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry, in recognition, has begun revising its role as service providers.

A new effort recently began to assist Bureau of Forestry personnel as they transition from technical assistance providers to serving as regional resources for all private forestland stakeholders. “Discovering Collaborative Learning: A Workshop,” was held to create a cadre of resource professionals able to engage private forest stakeholders in new ways through the use of collaborative learning and dialogue. Collaborative learning is an evolving dynamic approach for finding solutions and directions from stakeholder experiences and knowledge. The workshop series was completed in 2007 and these resource professionals are using their new skills to create regional learning communities, facilitate planning initiatives, and engage the public. The new roles have expanded the resource professionals’ practice and moved them into a position as a nexus of resources, putting current and future private forest stakeholders in touch with mentors, advisors, and connections to other resource and information providers – exponentially and collaboratively increasing their impact on the private forestlands resource of Pennsylvania.

Allyson B. Muth
Penn State School of Forest Resources
Forestry Extension
320 Forest Resources Building
University Park, PA 16802
Phone: 814-865-3208
Fax: 814-865-6275
E-mail: abm173@psu.edu

Elizabeth A. Kerlin
Penn State School of Forest Resources
Forestry Extension
320 Forest Resources Building
University Park, PA 16802
Phone: 814-865-4431
Fax: 814-865-6275
E-mail: eas285@psu.edu

James C. Finley
Penn State School of Forest Resources
Forestry Extension
320 Forest Resources Building
University Park, PA 16802
Phone: 814-863-0402
Fax: 814-865-6275
E-mail: fj4@psu.edu