Region-Wide Survey

M anaging National Forests and Grasslands in the Southwest: What Do You Think?

The Southwestern Region of the Forest Service, which is made up of Arizona, New Mexico, and small parts of Oklahoma and Texas, is about to begin the process of revising the forest plans for all the forests and grasslands in the region.

To make good decisions about how to use and care for the National Forests and Grasslands in the Southwest, the Forest Service needs to hear what people think about those lands. It doesn’t matter whether you use those lands a lot or never set foot on them, they need to know what you think.

Uses of National Forests and Grasslands

Many people participate in outdoor activities. Sometimes those activities are done in a national or state forest or park; sometimes they are done on private land. This first section asks about outdoor activities you do and where you do them.

Q1. What outdoor activities have you participated in during the last twelve months? Circle the number for all that apply.

1	Camping in developed areas	18	Fishing
2	Camping in undeveloped areas	19	Hunting or trapping
3	Backpacking	20	Viewing/photographing wildlife
4	Staying at cabins, camps, etc.	21	Viewing/photographing birds
5	Picnicking and group or family day gatherings at developed sites	22	Viewing/photographing natural features such as scenery, flowers, etc.
6	Visiting historic or prehistoric sites	23	Horseback riding
7	Visiting a nature center, nature trail or visitor information services	24	Hiking or walking on trails
8	Nature study	25	Hiking or walking off trails
9	Driving for pleasure on roads	26	Bicycling
10	Off-highway vehicle driving (jeep, ATV, dirt bike, etc.)	27	Mountain biking
11	Snowmobiling	28	Other non-motorized activities (swimming, games and sports, etc.)
12	Downhill skiing or snowboarding	29	Gathering special products, such as piñons, berries, Christmas trees, etc.
13	Cross-country skiing or snowshoeing	30	Personal-use fuelwood cutting
14	Motorized water travel (boats, jet skis, etc)	31	Logging or commercial fuelwood cutting
15	Non-motorized water travel (canoe, raft, etc.)	32	Ranching
16	Guiding	33	Mining or cutting stone
17	Rock climbing or caving	34	Other. Please specify:

The Southwestern Region of the Forest Service is made up of all the National Forests and Grasslands in Arizona and New Mexico, plus National Grasslands in Texas and Oklahoma. Those areas are shown on the enclosed map.

In this survey, we will refer to those areas collectively as the “Southwestern Region.” Whenever you see the phrase Southwestern Region, think of that whole group of National Forests and Grasslands.

Q2. During the last twelve months, how many trips for recreation have you made to any National Forest or Grassland in the Southwestern Region?

________ trips (If you said zero, please skip to the next section starting on page 4.)

Q3. Which Southwestern Region National Forest or Grassland, shown on the enclosed map, did you visit most frequently for recreation in the past 12 months? Circle the number next to the forest or grassland you visited most frequently.

1	Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest (in AZ or NM)	7	Kaibab National Forest (in AZ)
2	Carson National Forest (in NM)	8	Lincoln National Forest (in NM)
3	Cibola National Forest (in NM)	9	Prescott National Forest (in AZ)
4	Coconino National Forest (in AZ)	10	Santa Fe National Forest (in NM)
5	Coronado National Forest (in AZ)	11	Tonto National Forest (in AZ)
6	Gila National Forest (in NM)	12	Cibola National Grasslands (in NM, OK, or TX)

Q4. Can you identify the name of the site you visited most frequently at the forest or grassland you circled in Q3? Write in the name of the trailhead, campsite, or other site, or briefly describe where it is.

Most frequently visited trailhead, campsite, or other site: _________________________

Q5. What recreation activity did you do most frequently at the forest/grassland you circled in Q3? Write in the activity you did most often using the activity number from Q1 (on page 1).

Most frequent outdoor recreation activity: _________________

Management of National Forests and Grasslands

National Forests and Grasslands can be managed in a variety of ways. In this section we will ask your opinion about different objectives for managing National Forests and Grasslands.

Q1. Indicate your level of agreement with each of the following statements by circling the appropriate number for each statement.

	Strongly Disagree	Somewhat disagree	Neutral	Somewhat agree	Strongly Agree	Don’t know
People should be more concerned about how our public lands are used.	1	2	3	4	5	9
Natural resources must be preserved even if people must do without some products.	1	2	3	4	5	9
Consumers should be interested in the environmental consequences of the products they purchase.	1	2	3	4	5	9
I would be willing to sign a petition for an environmental cause.	1	2	3	4	5	9
The whole pollution issue has never upset me too much since I feel it’s somewhat overrated.	1	2	3	4	5	9
I have often thought that if we could just get by with a little less there would be more left for future generations.	1	2	3	4	5	9
Manufacturers should be encouraged to use recycled materials in their manufacturing and processing operations.	1	2	3	4	5	9
Future generations should be as important as the current one in the decisions about public lands.	1	2	3	4	5	9
I would be willing to pay five dollars more each time I use public lands for recreational purposes, for example, hiking, camping, and hunting.	1	2	3	4	5	9
People should urge their friends to limit their use of products made from scarce resources.	1	2	3	4	5	9
I am glad there are national forests even if I never get to see them.	1	2	3	4	5	9
People can think public lands are valuable even if they do not actually go there themselves.	1	2	3	4	5	9
I am willing to stop buying products from companies that pollute the environment even though it might be inconvenient.	1	2	3	4	5	9
I am willing to make personal sacrifices for the sake of slowing down pollution.	1	2	3	4	5	9
	Strongly Disagree	Somewhat disagree	Neutral	Somewhat agree	Strongly Agree	Don’t know
Forests have a right to exist for their own sake, regardless of human concerns and uses.	1	2	3	4	5	9
Wildlife, plants and humans have equal rights to live and grow.	1	2	3	4	5	9
Donating time or money to worthy causes is important to me.	1	2	3	4	5	9
We should actively harvest more trees to meet the needs of a much larger human population.	1	2	3	4	5	9
The most important role for the public lands is providing jobs and income for local people.	1	2	3	4	5	9
The decision to develop resources should be based mostly on economic grounds.	1	2	3	4	5	9
The main reason for maintaining resources today is so we can develop them in the future if we need to.	1	2	3	4	5	9
I think public land managers are doing an adequate job of protecting natural resources from being overused.	1	2	3	4	5	9
The primary use of forests should be for products that are useful to humans.	1	2	3	4	5	9
The Federal government should subsidize the development and leasing of public lands to companies.	1	2	3	4	5	9
The government has better places to spend money than devoting resources to a strong conservation program.	1	2	3	4	5	9

Q2. Each of the following statements is an objective for managing National Forests and Grasslands in the Southwestern Region. Indicate how important you think each of the objectives is by circling the appropriate number for each statement.

	Not at all important	Not very important	Neutral	Somewhat important	Very important	Don’t know
Expanding access for motorized off-highway vehicles on forests and grasslands, for example, snowmobile or 4-wheel driving.	1	2	3	4	5	9
Developing and maintaining continuous trail systems that cross both public and private land for motorized vehicles such as snowmobiles or ATVs.	1	2	3	4	5	9
Developing and maintaining continuous trail systems that cross both public and private land for non-motorized recreation such as hiking or cross-country skiing.	1	2	3	4	5	9
Designating some existing recreation trails for specific use, for example, creating separate trails for snowmobiling and cross-country skiing, or for mountain biking and horseback riding.	1	2	3	4	5	9
Developing new paved roads on forests and grasslands for access for cars and recreational vehicles.	1	2	3	4	5	9
Designating more wilderness areas on public land that stops access for development and motorized uses.	1	2	3	4	5	9
Conserving and protecting forests and grasslands that are the source of our water resources, such as streams, lakes, and watershed areas.	1	2	3	4	5	9
Preserving the natural resources of forests and grasslands through such policies as no timber harvesting or no mining.	1	2	3	4	5	9
Protecting ecosystems and wildlife habitats.	1	2	3	4	5	9
Preserving the ability to have a “wilderness” experience on forests and grasslands.	1	2	3	4	5	9
Preserving Native Americans’ and Native Hispanics’ cultural uses of forest and grasslands such as fire wood gathering, herb/berry/plant gathering, and ceremonial access.	1	2	3	4	5	9
Providing natural resources from forests and grasslands to support communities dependent on grazing, mining or timber harvesting.	1	2	3	4	5	9
Restricting mining, oil drilling, and other mineral removals on forests and grasslands.	1	2	3	4	5	9
Restricting timber harvesting and grazing on forests and grasslands.	1	2	3	4	5	9
Making it easier to get permits for some established uses of forests and grasslands such as grazing, logging, mining, and commercial recreation.	1	2	3	4	5	9
Developing a national policy that guides natural resource development of all kinds, for example, the amount of timber cut or barrels of oil pumped, and the regulation of environmental impacts.	1	2	3	4	5	9
Expanding commercial recreation on forests and grasslands, for example, ski areas, guide services, or outfitters.	1	2	3	4	5	9
Developing volunteer programs to improve forests and grasslands, for example, planting trees, or improving water quality.	1	2	3	4	5	9
Developing volunteer programs to maintain trails and facilities on forests and grasslands, for example, trail maintenance, or campground maintenance.	1	2	3	4	5	9
Informing the public about recreation concerns on forests and grasslands such as safety, trail etiquette, and respect for wildlife.	1	2	3	4	5	9
Informing the public on the potential environmental impacts of all uses associated with forests and grasslands.	1	2	3	4	5	9
Informing the public on the economic value received by developing our natural resources.	1	2	3	4	5	9
Encouraging collaboration between groups in order to share information concerning uses of forests and grasslands.	1	2	3	4	5	9
Using public advisory committees to advise on public land management issues.	1	2	3	4	5	9
Allowing for diverse uses of forests and grasslands such as grazing, recreation, and wildlife habitat.	1	2	3	4	5	9
Making management decisions concerning the use of forests and grasslands at the local level rather than at the national level.	1	2	3	4	5	9
Increasing the total number of acres in the public land system.	1	2	3	4	5	9
Introducing a recreation fee that goes to support public land.	1	2	3	4	5	9
Increasing law enforcement efforts by public land agencies on public lands.	1	2	3	4	5	9
Allowing public land managers to trade public lands for private lands, for example, to eliminate private property within public land boundaries, or to acquire unique areas of land.	1	2	3	4	5	9

Relationships between People and Forest/Grassland Managers

Recently there has been a lot of discussion over issues like the role of public input and increasing citizen participation in the management of National Forests and Grasslands

Q1. How informed do you feel about the issues affecting National Forest and Grassland management? Circle the appropriate number.

Well informed	Somewhat well informed	Somewhat uninformed	Uninformed
1	2	4	5

Q2. How much do you agree or disagree with each of the following statements? Circle the appropriate number for each statement.

	Strongly disagree	Somewhat disagree	Neutral	Somewhat agree	Strongly agree	Don’t know
Citizen participation is of great value even if it adds to the cost of government.	1	2	3	4	5	9
Public concerns are rarely or never considered by the Forest Service.	1	2	3	4	5	9
Highest priority should be given to local community concerns.	1	2	3	4	5	9

Q3. In your opinion, which is the most appropriate role for the public in National Forest and Grassland management? Circle one number.

1	None, let natural resource professionals make the decisions.
2	Provide input and suggestions for decision makers to consider.
3	Serve on advisory boards that only review and comment on decisions.
4	Serve on advisory boards that help develop management proposals.
5	Act as a full and equal partner in making management decisions.
6	The public should make the decisions and natural resource professionals should carry them out.

Q4. In your opinion, does the Forest Service give too much weight to the opinions and viewpoints of any particular interest group(s)?

1. No

2 Yes If yes, which one(s)? ________________________________

Wildland Fire

Q5. Have you ever been affected by a wildland fire? Circle all that apply.

1	I have smelled smoke from a wildland fire.
2	I have seen a wildland fire.
3	I was told to be ready to evacuate my home.
4	I was evacuated from my home as a result of a wildland fire.
5	I suffered property loss or damage from a wildland fire.
6	I know someone who was evacuated or suffered property loss or damage from a wildland fire.
7	I have never been affected by a wildland fire.

Background Characteristics

Questions in this final section help us better understand peoples’ views and opinions and check whether our survey is representative. All responses are anonymous; results will only be reported as group averages.

Q1. Are you: Female _____ Male _____

Q2. What year were you born? 19____

Q3. How long have you lived in the county where you currently live? ____ years

Q4. How many people are in your household? ____ people

Q5. Of the people in your household, how many are age 12 or younger? ____ 12 or younger

Q6. Of the people in your household, how many are age 13 to 17? ____ 13 to 17

Q7. What is your employment status? Circle all that apply.

1. Work full-time 6 Part-time student

2. Work part-time 7 Active duty U.S. Armed Forces

3. Retired 8 Military Reserve or National Guard

4. Homemaker 9 Unemployed – looking for a job

5. Full-time student 10 Unemployed – not looking for a job

Q8. Do you make your living from a job that depends directly on natural resources, such as ranching, mining, guiding hunters or recreation users, working in a saw mill, or others?

1. No

2. Yes. Please specify: _______________________________________________

Q9. Are you a member of any organized group with an interest in natural resources or outdoor activities? Circle all that apply.

1 No. 5 Producer’s group

2 Sportsman’s group 6 Hiking or biking group

3 Conservation group 7 Off-highway vehicle user group

4 Environmental group 8 Other. Please specify: ________________

Q10. Are you Hispanic or Latino(a)?

1 No

2 Yes

Q11. With which racial group(s) do you most closely identify? Please select one or more.

1 American Indian/Alaska Native	4 Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander
2 Asian	5 White
3 Black/African American

Q12. Is any language other than English regularly spoken in your home?

1. No

2 Yes. Which language? _________________________________

Q13. What is the highest level of schooling you have completed? Circle one category.

1 Fourth grade or less	6 Some college
2 Fifth through eighth grades	7 Associates degree
3 Ninth through eleventh grades	8 Bachelor’s degree
4 Twelfth grade, no diploma	9 Graduate or professional degree
5 High school graduate (including GED)

Q14. What was your total household income in 2006, before taxes? Circle one category.

1 Less than $20,000	7 $120,000 to $139,999
2 $20,000 to $39,999	8 $140,000 to $159,999
3 $40,000 to $59,999	9 $160,000 to $179,999
4 $60,000 to $79,999	10 $180,000 to $199,999
5 $80,000 to $99,999	11 $200,000 to $219,999
6 $100,000 to $119,999	12 $220,000 or more

Q15. How many weeks did you work at a job or business in 2006? Include paid vacation, paid sick leave, and military service.

_____ weeks

Q16. For the weeks worked in 2006 from Q15, how many hours did you usually work each week?

_____ hours

Q17. Approximately what percent of your total household income in 2006 was derived from your personal employment?

_____ %

Q18. Some participants in this survey were randomly given the opportunity to complete the survey using the internet. Were you given this opportunity?

1. Yes (go on to Q19)

2. No (skip to Q21)

3. Don’t know (skip to Q21)

Q19. If you chose Yes on Q18, why did you choose to fill out the paper survey? Circle all that apply.

1	I do not have internet access.	5	I do not feel comfortable using computers.
2	I have internet access but I do not like to use it.	6	It was just easier to fill out the paper survey.
3	I usually have internet access, but it wasn’t working (because of problems with the internet or my computer).	7	I was concerned about the security of internet surveys.
4	I tried to complete the survey using the internet, but had difficulty with the survey website.	8	Other. Please tell us why: ________________________________

Q20. If you chose No or Don’t Know on Q18, would you have completed the survey using the internet had you been given the opportunity to do so?

1 Does not apply, I chose Yes on Q18.

2 Yes

3 No

4 Don’t know

Do you have any additional comments?

Thank you for your help.

The Forest and Grassland Management Plans in the Southwestern Region will be better as a result of your input.

BURDEN AND NONDISCRIMINATION STATEMENTS

According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, an agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a valid OMB control number. The valid OMB control number for this information collection is 0596-0202. The time required to complete this information collection is estimated to average 20 minutes per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at 202-720-2600 (voice and TDD).

To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

* * *

National Forest managers will use this information to serve the public. Response to this request is voluntary. No action may be taken against you for refusing to supply the information requested. When analysis of the questionnaire is completed, all names and address files will be destroyed. Thus, the permanent data will be anonymous. Please do not put your name or that of any member of your household on the questionnaire. Data collected through surveys may be disclosed to the Department of Justice when relevant to litigation or anticipated litigation, or to appropriate Federal, State, local or foreign agencies responsible for investigating or prosecuting a violation of the law.

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