Understanding public support for forest management and economic development options after a mountain pine beetle outbreak

Little is known about public attitudes toward management of forests after major disturbances. Mail surveys (n = 231) and in-depth telephone interviews (n = 36) with Grand County, Colorado, residents revealed that support for active forest management and economic development options was relatively high, concerns about impacts from the outbreak were mostly moderate, except those regarding wildfire and falling trees, which were high, and attitudes toward land managers and community leaders were generally negative. Concern, gender, and political orientation were significant predictors of support for management options, although different variables explained attitudes about different options. Interviews illustrated the complexity of attitudes toward management by revealing competing concerns related to the outbreak and forest management. Specifically, citizens generally supported postoutbreak management to reduce social and ecological impacts from the outbreak, but they were wary of the possibility of further negative social/ecological impacts resulting from further disturbance. This study reveals the importance of managers addressing people's concerns about both the disturbance and subsequent management actions when making postdisturbance management decisions.