Social and economic assessment of the Chugach National Forest area.

Crone, Lisa K.; Reed, Pat; Schaefers, Julie. 2002. Social and economic assessment of the Chugach National Forest area. Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-561. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. 108 p. This is an assessment of the social and economic conditions in the Chugach National Forest area for use as background information for forest planning. Current regional conditions and recent trends are compared and contrasted with state and national conditions and recent trends. Regional employment and income trends in industries that use forest-related resources are detailed with a focus on their relation to forest management. Tourism and recreation is the industry likely to be most influenced by forest management policies. The social and economic conditions in 14 communities, chosen because of their proximity to the forest, also are described. The results of two mail surveys designed to gain a better understanding of the communities’ perceptions of themselves, their views about the management of the forest and other public lands, and the role of these lands in their quality of life also are presented and discussed. The survey results indicate that the communities are interested in the management of the forest and, because of the importance of public land to their quality of life, most wish to be equal partners with management agencies in planning for the future of these lands.