494
5. Draft reports on research topics were developed and reviewed and critiqued by work
group and the state by state citizen advisory
committees that had been formed.
6. Final reports were written on the topic.
7. With minor assistance from work group members, Northern Forest Lands Council subcommittee members developed findings from the
work accomplished under the research. The
findings represented the most relevant results
drawn from the research.
8. All the findings were published along with a
series of public policy options that were developed directly from these findings by the
Council members with assistance from staff.
These options represented every possible public policy change that might be made at the
state and federal level to address the changing
land-use trends in the Northern Forest. The resulting document was called the Findings and
Options.
9. The public at large was invited to critique the
Findings and Options book.
10. The findings were finalized based on public
comment.
11. The draft report of the Council's recommendations was published for final public scrutiny.
In addition to written comments sought on the
report, a series of 26 public listening sessions
(hearings) and open houses were held throughout the Northeast to gather further input on the
report.
33.6 Results of Analyses
33.6.1 Northern Forest Lands Study
After nearly two years of study, the Northern Forest Lands Study's final product centered on a series of 28 potential strategies to conserve the Northern Forest. The background reports and research
analyses were also included in the final report of
the effort and proved as useful as the strategies
themselves. The strategies resulting from the analyses of research were not recommendations. By design from the congressional charge to the Study,
the 28 conservation strategies were intended to represent the full range of possible public policy
changes that policy makers might look to in order
to develop policies at the state and federal level
conducive to the long-term conservation of the
Northern Forest area.
The Governors' Task Force on Northern Forest
Lands took an additional step beyond that of the
Northern Forest Lands Case Study
Northern Forest Lands Study. Not constrained by
the congressional limitations placed on the Study
process, the Task Force recommended establishment of Northern Forest Lands Council with a fouryear life-span to further the work begun by the
Study.
33.6.2 Northern Forest Lands Council
The result of the Council analysis was a series of
recommendations for action: specific public policy
recommendations, some federal (8), but most at
state level (29).
33.7 Innovations Resulting from
the Analyses
33.7.1 New Models of Active
Public Participation
Both the Northern Forest Lands Study and Council processes broke new ground in approaching natural resource assessments by developing new active venues for public participation at many levels
in the processes.
1. The primary innovation in the Study process
was in the invitation for active participation of
landowners in defining the problem. A series of
25 in-depth interviews formed the initial contact
to engage those owners whose lands were being studied.
2. The Council process for engaging the public is
still being cited as the standard by which all
other public participation processes are being
judged in natural resource efforts around the
Northeast. Active public participation was
sought in developing research topics, reviewing
draft results, and formulating recommendations.
To accomplish the enormous tasks set out in the
Northern Forest Lands Study and Council charges,
new approaches were needed to leverage the resources adequate to the task. The assessments of
these processes necessarily used partnerships at all
levels, drawing on volunteer arrangements from
scientists and nonscientists alike, to develop products in an efficient and self-critiqued fashion.
33.7.2 Continuous Assessment
The immediate need for public policy answers in
the Northern Forest situation resulted in assessment
processes being developed that recognize that pol-
5. Draft reports on research topics were developed and reviewed and critiqued by work
group and the state by state citizen advisory
committees that had been formed.
6. Final reports were written on the topic.
7. With minor assistance from work group members, Northern Forest Lands Council subcommittee members developed findings from the
work accomplished under the research. The
findings represented the most relevant results
drawn from the research.
8. All the findings were published along with a
series of public policy options that were developed directly from these findings by the
Council members with assistance from staff.
These options represented every possible public policy change that might be made at the
state and federal level to address the changing
land-use trends in the Northern Forest. The resulting document was called the Findings and
Options.
9. The public at large was invited to critique the
Findings and Options book.
10. The findings were finalized based on public
comment.
11. The draft report of the Council's recommendations was published for final public scrutiny.
In addition to written comments sought on the
report, a series of 26 public listening sessions
(hearings) and open houses were held throughout the Northeast to gather further input on the
report.
33.6 Results of Analyses
33.6.1 Northern Forest Lands Study
After nearly two years of study, the Northern Forest Lands Study's final product centered on a series of 28 potential strategies to conserve the Northern Forest. The background reports and research
analyses were also included in the final report of
the effort and proved as useful as the strategies
themselves. The strategies resulting from the analyses of research were not recommendations. By design from the congressional charge to the Study,
the 28 conservation strategies were intended to represent the full range of possible public policy
changes that policy makers might look to in order
to develop policies at the state and federal level
conducive to the long-term conservation of the
Northern Forest area.
The Governors' Task Force on Northern Forest
Lands took an additional step beyond that of the
Northern Forest Lands Case Study
Northern Forest Lands Study. Not constrained by
the congressional limitations placed on the Study
process, the Task Force recommended establishment of Northern Forest Lands Council with a fouryear life-span to further the work begun by the
Study.
33.6.2 Northern Forest Lands Council
The result of the Council analysis was a series of
recommendations for action: specific public policy
recommendations, some federal (8), but most at
state level (29).
33.7 Innovations Resulting from
the Analyses
33.7.1 New Models of Active
Public Participation
Both the Northern Forest Lands Study and Council processes broke new ground in approaching natural resource assessments by developing new active venues for public participation at many levels
in the processes.
1. The primary innovation in the Study process
was in the invitation for active participation of
landowners in defining the problem. A series of
25 in-depth interviews formed the initial contact
to engage those owners whose lands were being studied.
2. The Council process for engaging the public is
still being cited as the standard by which all
other public participation processes are being
judged in natural resource efforts around the
Northeast. Active public participation was
sought in developing research topics, reviewing
draft results, and formulating recommendations.
To accomplish the enormous tasks set out in the
Northern Forest Lands Study and Council charges,
new approaches were needed to leverage the resources adequate to the task. The assessments of
these processes necessarily used partnerships at all
levels, drawing on volunteer arrangements from
scientists and nonscientists alike, to develop products in an efficient and self-critiqued fashion.
33.7.2 Continuous Assessment
The immediate need for public policy answers in
the Northern Forest situation resulted in assessment
processes being developed that recognize that pol-