Community, know thyself: caring about place.

Abstract

Traditional scientific assessments have limitations in providing full understanding of the potential impacts forest management has on communities. Much of the knowledge communities have of themselves is inaccessible to quantitative methods but can be provided through participatory processes, or what is termed "civic science." Self-assessment by communities, social scientists at PNW Research Station theorized, would contribute more richly to the understandings of communities, factors that influence the capacity of a community to adapt to external change, and the relationship communities have with forests. In the White Pass area of southwest Washington, they put their theories to the test. A participatory process resulted that benefited the community, the individual involved, and the agency that used the results of the assessment.

Citation

Duncan, Sally. 2000. Community, know thyself: caring about place. Science Findings. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. August (26): 1-5.