| In 1979, extensive forest fires burned in the Northwest Territories causing residents to call for a re-evaluation of the priority zone basis of the forest fire control policy. A new policy was developed through public consultation and implemented in 1990. It required that communities be consulted to define priorities for values-at-risk. This study was developed to: (1) define social and environmental resource values (values-at-risk) endangered by forest fires, and to rank them in relative priority, and (2) describe how to more effectively involve the communities and to recognize their values while implementing forest fire management policy. The target population was Dene people, 19 years of age and older, living primarily in small communities of the forested portion of the NWT. Data were to be collected through personal interviews based on a questionnaire. Community leaders in Hay River Reserve, Fort Liard, Snowdrift and Fort Good Hope helped identify the individuals to be interviewed from these communities.;Over 88 percent of respondents wanted all forest fires fought, but there were small groups that indicated that not all fires need necessarily be fought. It was not possible to prioritize all values-at-risk identified in the study, but seven values-at-risk (townsite, trapping area, hunting area, petroleum plant, caribou winter range, park area and commercial forest) are ranked with statistical significance. Methods or techniques ranging from open houses and workshops to one on one meetings and letters to resident were ranked as to their importance in community consultation processes. Values-at-risk and community consultation methods were ranked differently among individual communities.;The principle conclusions are: (1) the community itself is the most important value-at-risk, (2) the specific rank order of priorities varied among communities, and (3) this method of seeking community input suggests a workable means for developing a decision framework for community forest fire management planning. |
