| Forests cover over 62% of the land surface area of New York State. This forested landscape is important because it represents the ecosystem that is our state's natural life support system. Forests' importance can be viewed through four values types, direct, indirect, existence, and optional. Understanding these value types, ranging from their economic and ecological importance to the effect they have on our psyche, and incorporating them into effective educational programs, are essential components of a strategy to sustain New York State's forests. In addition, threats to New York State's forests need to be incorporated into such programs. A significant stakeholder, private forest landowners (who own 85% of the forests in New York State) need to be targeted for educational programs aimed at sustaining forests. I organized a symposium to determine to what degree those who provide information to private forest landowners understand these value types, threats and educational models. |
