NIPF Use of Landowner Assistance and Education Programs in Washington State

Abstract

Abstract A 1988 mail survey to evaluate use and effectiveness of Washington NIPF assistance/education programs resulted in a 69% response or 910 useable questionnaires. In total, 47% of the respondents had received assistance/education from Washington State DNR (17.4%), SCS (15.4%), ASCS Cost-Share (15.5%), Washington State University Cooperative Extension (29.3%) and private forestry consultants (12%). Usefulness of assistance/education received was rated good/excellent by 79.3% to 90.5% of the respondents. Owners also commonly received assistance/education from more than one source, reflecting the fact that NIPF forestry programs tend to work as a system, with each part serving a different function. Respondents receiving assistance or information had larger forested holdings, a somewhat higher level of education and tended to live on or near their forested holdings. A much larger percentage of respondents having received assistance/education indicated they had completed one or more management practices in the past 10 years. West. J. Appl. For. 6(4):90-94.