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The Six Americas of Climate Change: Perceptions of Southeast Extension Professionals PDF document
PINEMAP Research Summary, July 2012. Authors: D.C. Adams, M.C. Monroe, R. Plate, and D. Wojcik. This study measured Extension professionals’ perceptions of global climate change. With the participation of eight states and using methods from several national studies, survey responses from 2,589 Extension professionals in the Southeast placed them in one of six categories ranging from alarmed through dismissive. Results show a pattern similar to earlier national studies with the general public; all six categories are represented. Distribution across these categories varies by state, political leaning, education level, and program area. The importance of in-service training, applicable information, and administrative support for programming on climate change mitigation and adaption are discussed.
Climate Change Perceptions of Southern Foresters: Preliminary Survey Results PDF document
PINEMAP Research Summary, May 2013. Authors: L. Boby, W. Hubbard, and H. Cole. Southern foresters were surveyed to gain a better understanding of their experiences, perceptions, beliefs, attitudes and interests in continuing education topics and formats regarding climate science and climate change. The survey provides insight into several inferential questions regarding a forester’s world-view and their associated receptivity to making forest management changes to increase resiliency. Information from this survey will be used to develop educational programs and tools that meet foresters’ interests and needs while accommodating different perceptions. This survey was conducted in collaboration with the Pine Integrated Network: Education, Mitigation and Adaptation Project (PINEMAP). PINEMAP is a USDA project that combines forestry research, education and extension teams to create and disseminate the knowledge to increase pine plantation resiliency in the Southern United States.
2013 Climate Change Attitudes of Southeast Forestry Professionals: Implications for Outreach PDF document
PINEMAP Research Summary, April 2014. Authors: H. Morris, M. Megalos, W. Hubbard, and L. Boby. We surveyed Southeast forestry professionals to better understand their climate change perceptions and attitudes. We found that demographic variables—specifically political ideology, age, education level, employer, gender, and years of forestry experience—significantly influence foresters’ climate change attitudes. Our results also show that foresters’ climate change attitudes, personal perceptions of climate change, and management responses are closely related. We conclude that Extension can motivate adaptive management by helping foresters connect to climate change, illustrating how climate change will impact forestry and demonstrating suitable silvicultural management responses.
Communicating Climate Change with Forest Landowners through Video PDF document
PINEMAP Research Summary, April 2014. Authors: Shelby Krantz and Martha Monroe. This study explored the effect of framing messages in a video on landowners’ attitudes toward and intentions to adopt forest management strategies to increase their forests’ resilience to possible climate changes. When the video reinforced a viewer’s values, demonstrated actions to promote feelings of efficacy, and used likeable speakers to generate feelings of homophily, the viewer’s intention to act was enhanced.
North Carolina Cooperative Extension Professionals' Climate Change Perceptions, Willingness, and Perceived Barriers to Programming PDF document
PINEMAP Research Summary, October 2014. Authors: R.E. Burnett, A. Vuola, M.A. Megalos, M.C. Monroe and D.C. Adams. This study evaluated North Carolina Cooperative Extension Professionals' perceptions of global warming, willingness to participate in climate change-related programs, and barriers to climate change programming. Survey results show that the majority of NCCE professionals are cautious, concerned, or alarmed about global warming and are willing to engage in climate change programming. They perceive lack of audience interest, conflicting information, and lack of applied information to be the greatest barriers to programming.
Survey Questions: Climate Change Attitudes of Southern Foresters PDF document
In early 2013, we surveyed nearly 2,000 southern foresters about their perceptions of climate change, observations and concerns about climatic and forest conditions, and knowledge of and interest in resilient forest management techniques and climate science. This link provides the survey questions that we used.
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PINEMAP Collaborators

Universities

University of Florida | Alcorn State University | University of Georgia | Auburn University | Mississippi State University | North Carolina A & T University | North Carolina State University |
Oklahoma State University | Texas A & M University | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University | Virginia State University

University-Corporate-Governmental Research Cooperatives

Cooperative Forest Genetics Research Program | Cooperative Tree Improvement Program | Forest Biology Research Cooperative | Forest Modeling Research Cooperative |
Forest Productivity Cooperative | Plantation Management Research Cooperative | Southern Forest Resource Assessment Consortium | Western Gulf Forest Tree Improvement Program

Other

U.S. Forest Service | Southern Regional Extension Forestry | Southeast Climate Consortium | Additional Supporters

The Pine Integrated Network: Education, Mitigation, and Adaptation project (PINEMAP) is a Coordinated Agricultural Project funded by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Award #2011-68002-30185.