Understanding the discourse of forest restoration and biomass utilization: a Q-method case study of the Uncompahgre Plateau in western Colorado, USA

Abstract

Using Q-method, we characterize the discourse surrounding forest restoration activities on public lands and the potential harvest and use of resulting forest biomass for the production of bioenergy and biofuels. Q-sorts were completed by 41 participants representing 11 different self-identified stakeholder groups in the Uncompahgre Plateau region of Colorado, USA. We identified four distinct themes, all of which appear to support restoration and utilization to some degree. However, among four distinct themes we find evidence that stakeholders have different levels of and reasons for social acceptance of biomass utilization as a component of forest restoration, which may have implications for how restoration projects will be planned and carried out. Our results contrast with many past conflicts over federal land management, especially timber harvesting, where outright polarization among stakeholders has been evident. In this region there has been consistent collaboration around forest restoration since 1996, which may help explain the lack of polarized opposition to restoration and associated utilization of biomass. The different themes that resulted in this Q-study are intended to provide the collaborative group with information to help them identify divergent and convergent perspectives regarding biomass utilization and therefore what collaborative options might be available to them. The results on the one hand provide evidence of the efficacy of using collaborative restoration approaches, and also provide tools with which this collaborative group can unravel the complex subject of biomass utilization.