Using focus groups to involve citizens in resource management--investigating perceptions of smoke as a barrier to prescribed forest burning

Abstract

Participants in a series of focus groups discussed how their tolerance for smoke varied by the source of the smoke and found their opinions changing as they talked with other participants. Even those opposed to smoke from agricultural burning eventually found smoke from prescribed forest burning would be acceptable under appropriate circumstances. Observations of the development of smoke acceptance among participants suggest the focus group process itself could be a useful tool for managers wishing to engage communities in collaborative efforts to plan and implement fuels management projects in the wildland-urban interface.

Parent Publication

• The public and wildland fire management: social science findings for managers

Citation

Weisshaupt, Brad R.; Carroll, Matthew S.; Blatner, Keith A.; Jakes, Pamela J. 2006. Using focus groups to involve citizens in resource management--investigating perceptions of smoke as a barrier to prescribed forest burning. In: McCaffrey, S.M., tech. ed. The public and wildland fire management: social science findings for managers. Gen. Tech. Rep. NRS-1. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station: 177-186.