Shifting and Expanding Forest Values: The Case of the U.S. National Forests

Abstract

The idea that public forest values have changed significantly in recent decades has become widespread. According to this view, forest values-conceptions of what is good or desirable about forests-have changed in two important ways. First, it is often claimed that forest values have shifted, i.e., the relative importance of different values has changed. Social scientists refer to this type of change as a shift in a value system. Second, some have argued that the number of forest values has expanded, i.e., that there are new concepts of what is good or desirable about forests (new values), or new forest attributes that people care about (new objects of value).

Citation

Bengston, David N.; Xu, Zhi. 1996. Shifting and Expanding Forest Values: The Case of the U.S. National Forests. The George Wright FORUM 13(2):11-19