Statewide Forest Resource Planning Programs: An Evaluation of Program Administration and Effectiveness

Abstract

First-generation statewide forest resource planning programs are eval uated. The "direct approach to strategic planning evaluation" is used to comprehensively examine the effectiveness of planning programs. The evaluation involved a mail survey of seven groups perceived to have a stake in forest policy and planning in 48 states (i.e., state for est resource planners, state foresters, administrative of ficials overseeing state forestry organizations, state budget di rectors, legislators, forest industry representatives, environmental group representatives). Additional in-depth case studies were done for five states: Cal ifornia, Minnesota, Mississippi, New Hampshi re, and Oregon_ Numerous measures of planning effectiveness were identified within four major components of a st rategic planning system: context, process, outputs, and performance. Assessments of these measures revealed great diver sity in planning environments, processes undertaken, and actual experiences. Survey participants generally perceived fi rst-generation planning programs to have been quite effective--processes were considered to be well -conceived and relatively comprehensive; and many broad benefits, as well as specific accompl ishments, were perceived to accrue to state forestry organizat ions and state forestry communities through planning. Strategies are recommended for improving the effectiveness of future planning programs. Research implications are also presented, including the need for planning definitions and the opportunity for creating s tate profiles of planning programs.