In response to Jacqueline Tracey's comments on the social context and human dimensions of forestry. The Northern Forestry Centre of the Canadian Forest Service has an active research program in forest social science. Up to June 1993, the focus of the group was forest economics (the importance of the forest products sector, non-market valuation, economic dimensions of community stability, and economic benefits of recreation). In June 1993 I was hired to initiate a sociology program. I currently have projects on co-management of forests, human dimensions of integrated resource management, social, cultural and political dimensions of forest-dependence in traditional mill towns, etc. I am also working on a draft paper on sociology's potential to improve forest management. In addition, we work collaboratively with resource economists and sociologists at the Department of Rural Economy, University of Alberta. We recently sponsored a conference in Banff, Alberta, entitled "Forestry and the Environemnt: Economic Perspectives II", in which several sociology sessions were also included. Conference agenda's and lists of participants are still available for those interested. A book of the keynote addresses and some of the better papers is in process. I am also involved in an effort by the Canadian Forest Service to define criteria and indicators for sustainable development in forestry. I have short bibliographies on community forestry and co-management. I do not have any syllabi as mine is a research post, though I am developing one for a course at U of A called Rural Social Problems and Policy. I'll be glad to share that as well when it is complete. If anyone else is interested in the work of the Forest Social Science Group at the Canadian Forest Service's Edmonton research lab contact me or Bill White, Project leader (bwhite@nofc.forestry.ca), (403-435-7315).
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