DOI and other public land managers require clear and objective guidance on the use of socioeconomic information in their land management and planning. Many agencies are required by law to develop a plan for each unit or complex of public land (e.g., refuge Comprehensive Conservation Plans (CCPs), BLM resource management plans). These plans generally must contain an analysis of social and economic conditions and evaluate social and economic results from likely management scenarios. Moreover, public land managers, planners, and policy makers are generally responsible for including social and economic assessments in the long-term plan in such a way that understanding these factors aids planning decisions and helps guide management actions. Providing a better understanding of these social and economic considerations in planning is the goal of this task. FORT social scientists have worked with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service National Wildlife Refuge System and the Bureau of Land Management to provide social and economic assessments in support of their long-term planning. Techniques used to make these assessments include surveys, focus groups, non-market valuation, stakeholder analysis, interviews, demographic analysis, and regional economic analysis.

For more information contact Natalie Sexton