Western Region In the West region, ten LGUs responded to the survey. Within Extension, four LGUs are either already working with their National Forest Gateway communities, have current expertise and capacity to engage in Extension’s role directly, or would be willing to reallocate existing resources to support this work. An additional six LGUs are interested but would need external funding to support increasing capacity to engage (see figure 7). Regarding recreation economy research in the Western region, three LGUs are already conducting
research in National Forest Gateway communities. Four LGUs have either Extension or academic faculty with research expertise that could be applied to forest gateway communities; however, external funding would be needed to support this work. Three LGUs need more expertise or capacity to research on developing recreation economies in forest gateway communities. Still, they would be willing to increase their capacity and knowledge if external funding was available to support this work (see figure 8).
Extension
FIGURE 7: Extension and Recreation Economies in the West
FREQUENCY
6
We are interested in being more involved but would need external funding to support increasing our capacity in order to engage
2 2
Yes, Extension is already working with our National Forest Gateway communities
Yes, we either have current capacity to begin engaging in Extension programming to support the development of recreation economies in National Forest gateway communities or would be willing to reallocate existing resources to support this
0
10
The West region has the highest concentration of National Forests and as such, there are some Extension programs that have existing resources being directed to support the development of recreation economies. For example, in one state there is a Tourism Extension Educator as well as Ag & Natural Resources Educators working with communities. Another state has an Institute of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism that does lots of programming in addition to a Landscape architecture Extension Specialist that does work in gateway communities along with many county faculty. Another state is standing up an Outdoor Recreation Institute and committing resources (specialist, advisor/agent, and administrative support) to work with its existing cohort of economic development advisor/agents that will directly partner with National Forest gateway communities. Another state has Extension Specialists with expertise in wildlife, range, rural economic development, and tourism that currently work with communities near and in the National Forest in the state. Another state has legislative funding to study affordable housing issues in gateway communities and would be interested in expanding its work to ensure gateway communities consider the affordable housing for residents and hospitality workers as economies are developed.
Research
FIGURE 8: Research and Recreation Economies in the West
FREQUENCY
3
No, we do not currently have expertise or capacity for research related to developing recreation economies in forest gateway communities but would be willing to increase our capacity and expertise if external funding was available to support this We have either Extension or academic faculty with research expertise that could be applied to forest gateway communities but would need external funding to support this work Yes, we have expertise and capacity in Extension and/or Academic faculty and are already conducting research in National Forest gateway communities
4
3
0
10
With additional funding these states would add tourism positions which would provide them with the capacity to expand beyond the current footprint and to enrich programming and research capabilities in addition to supporting Tourism Agents/Specialists to build capacity to better address needs. Several states expressed interest in having funding to hire Extension Specialists to lead and provide programming for these communities that could support increased research, community engagement, and program development/implementation in addition to expansion of their Extension Internship program to include partnerships with agencies and communities focused on outdoor recreation needs in gateway communities.
Land-Grant University Capacity to Support Recreation Economies in National Forest Gateway Communities
6
Powered by FlippingBook