The development of natural resource values : federal natural resource managers in Humboldt County

The multifaceted problems associated with natural resource management are often fraught with the difficulty of communicating goals effectively and balancing the various goals of each constituent involved with the resource. Just as values are central to understanding people and their relationships to the environment, values are central to understanding the basis for managerial decisions. In order to investigate influences on development of natural resource values, this research explores how experiences with the natural world shape one's values. The study participants work within the field of federal natural resource management in Humboldt County. Semi-structured interviews with open-ended questions and surveys were used to gather data. Participants were found to have had similar environmental experiences that affected the development of their environmental worldviews. Childhood outdoor experiences near and away from home, both alone and with others; environmental degradation; family; and job experiences were found to be the most common influences.