The Social Dimensions of Forestry Road Management

This study explores the social dimension of forestry road access management in the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resource’s Wawa District (northern Ontario). Road access restrictions in the District are often implemented for the protection of remote tourism values, and many recreationists have expressed strong opposition to these restrictions. This study examines the issue from two perspectives. First, it determines residents’ satisfaction levels with current forestry road management, and explores how satisfaction varies with user characteristics. Second, it determines residents’ evaluations of the desirability of specific road access tools and controls, such as signs, gates, and physical impediments, and explores how these evaluations vary. The user characteristics considered include age, community of residence, use frequency, familiarity, environmental beliefs, and recreational activities pursued.