Assessing the effect of public involvement processes in forest management in Quebec

Despite the proliferation of public involvement initiatives in the forest sector, methodologies for monitoring the success of individual processes have been particularly weak. Assessments have traditionally examined the outward appearance of public involvement processes rather than what they accomplish. The aim of our research project was to develop a method for assessing the impact of public involvement processes in Quebec, and to test this method in the context of forest certification initiatives. More precisely, the research project determined that the public involvement processes tested in the Haute-Mauricie region, Quebec (Canada): (1) fostered better information sharing among parties interested in forest management; (2) brought about changes in forestry planning; (3) decreased mistrust between local stakeholders; and (4) reduced potential negative conflicts in this region. However, the experiment also showed that further institutional support should complement a public involvement initiative in order to increase its impact on forest management planning and on the relationships among parties interested in forest management.