THE LINKAGES OF CONTINUING EDUCATION TO THE FORMATION OF FORESTRY POLICY IN VIRGINI

The objective of this study was to explore the role of continuing education, especially Extension Forestry programming, in the formation of state forestry policy in Virginia. The study was divided into three components: (1) the legislative process by which forestry policy was formulated in Virginia, (2) the role of continuing education and the Extension Forestry program planning process, and (3) the linkages between Extension Forestry and the forestry legislative process.;The data were collected in three phases. The first phase was an archival search of the public records of the Virginia General Assembly for the period 1960-1978. The information developed concerning forestry legislation and legislative activity was analyzed by the technique of roll-call analysis. The second phase of data collection consisted of interviews with individuals knowledgeable about the activities of the General Assembly and forestry policy formation in Virginia. The final phase was the analysis of the Extension Forestry program of work for the period 1960-1978.;The results of the study showed that of the 43 forestry bills introduced during 1960-1978, 25 were passed by the General Assembly. Roll-call analysis of the voting patterns showed two important facts about the flow of forestry legislation. First, the legislative committees exert significant control over the fate of proposed forestry legislation. Secondly, if a forestry bill is reported from a committee, its passage is virtually assured by a unanimous vote on the chamber floor.;The forestry legislative process model developed from the data showed a system of preferred access and economics-inspired decision-making. Forestry legislation introduced by the preferred access groups is generally routinely adopted. Models of information flow and political influence flow were also developed to show the process by which forestry information moves to the members of the General Assembly. The legislative function in forestry is more as an arbitrator of public policy with policy initiated from the outside by the preferred access groups. Expert knowledge rather than enlightened constituency input is the critical ingredient.;The analysis of the Extension Forestry program of work showed a growing emphasis on professional and high technology programming. From these data, a model of the Extension Forestry program planning process was developed.;The process models previously described provided the basis for the study of the linkages between Extension Forestry and the forestry legislative process in Virginia. In essence, the linkage is through the preferred access groups, underpinned by the notion of professionalism in forestry, that is, scientific knowledge and expertise.;Based on the results of the linkage and other process models, a discussion of methods to improve the continuing education function was included. A model of this process was developed utilizing a wholistic approach to the understanding of and participation in natural resource issues.