ABSTRACT

This chapter describes the process used in attempting to gain access to all segments of the population in the region, what information was gathered, and how it influenced the outcome of the Forest Plan. Planning in the National Forests has been revamped due to the passage of the Forest and Rangelands Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 and its major amendment, the National Forest Management Act of 1976. The publics' description of their interaction with the forest is an indication of the potential impact of changes in Forest management and of the regional quality of life. Local people also point up their economic interaction with the Forest. Since the Coronado National Forest exists in a culturally pluralistic setting, it was important to get ethnic minorities involved. A social impact assessment using only public involvement, information would be incomplete in the instance because it was minus the viewpoint of ethnic minorities.