Survey Examines Views on Economic Development and Forest Resources

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Survey Examines Economic Development and Forest Products

Courtesy of
Media Services

Arkansans favor the development of new industries and creation of new jobs rather than retaining and growing existing business in the state, according to a recently completed survey by the School of Forest Resources at the University of Arkansas at Monticello.

The survey, which focused on economic development in the state with a special emphasis on natural resource-based industries, showed that heavy manufacturing and healthcare were seen as the best opportunities for growth, while few people thought forest-related industries offered growth opportunities.

The telephone survey, which was designed by Dr. Matthew Pelkki, associate professor of forestry, and Program Director Rebecca Montgomery, was conducted by the Survey Research Center at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville. Six hundred households were randomly selected with an estimated sampling error of plus-or-minus 4 percent.

Survey participants felt strongly that public funds for economic development should be distributed evenly throughout the state, rather than favoring regions that are already growing or regions that are poor.

   Other survey results show:
   • Arkansans feel that the state’s natural resources and quality of life are the greatest strengths in building economic development while business climate, human resources, and infrastructure are areas of concern.
   • Approximately three out of four Arkansans feel the forest products industry is important to the state today and will remain so well into the future.
   • The public’s perception of the forest industry’s environmental performance is troubling. The survey showed that the forest industry ranks ahead of only heavy manufacturing and petroleum and chemicals in terms of environmental friendliness. Poultry and livestock production, health care, communications and information technology, row crop farming, and tourism all hold a higher perception of environmental performance than forestry.

The survey was part of a larger study on economic development of Arkansas’ forest industries being conducted by Pelkki. Results of the comprehensive study will be available in October. For more information, contact Pelkki at (870) 460-1052. The following results come from the survey.

Economic development can include programs to expand existing industries and to attract new industries to the state. Which do you think would be more effective:
	Frequency	Percent
Attract new industries to the state	293	51
Expand existing industries in the state	91	15.9
Equally effective	190	33.1
Total	574	100
Economic development can create new jobs or retain existing jobs in the state. Which do you think is more important for a strong economy in Arkansas:
	Frequency	Percent
To create new jobs	257	43.2
To retain existing jobs	88	14.8
Equally important	250	42
Total	595	100
When public funds are used to build the state's infrastructure, the construction should occur in regions around the state where:
	Frequency	Percent
Economic growth is strong	134	23.5
Economic growth is minimal	110	19.3
Equally thru-out state regardless of current economic growth	327	57.3
Total	571	100
In your opinion, which of the following industries can best help Arkansas' economy grow:
	Frequency	Percent
Agriculture and food processing industry	98	17.6
Communications and information technology industry	96	17.2
Forest related industry	22	3.9
Health care industry	118	21.1
Heavy manufacturing industry	160	28.7
Tourism and recreation industry	64	11.5
Total	558	100

In regards to improving Arkansas' economy, which of the following areas is Arkansas' greatest strength:
	Frequency	Percent
Business climate	44	7.9
Human resources	83	15
Infrastructure	16	2.9
Natural resources	234	42.2
Quality of life	177	31.9
Total	554	100

In regards to improving Arkansas' economy, which is
Arkansas' greatest weakness:
	Frequency	Percent
Business climate	127	23.7
Human resources	128	23.9
Infrastructure	154	28.7
Natural resources	28	5.2
Quality of life	99	18.5
Total	536	100
Today, forest products industries are important to Arkansas' economy. Would you:
	Frequency	Percent
Strongly agree	133	23.2
Agree	304	53.1
Neither agree nor disagree	76	13.3
Disagree	48	8.4
Strongly disagree	12	2.1
Total	573	100
Forest products industries will be important to Arkansas' economy long into the future. Would you:
	Frequency	Percent
Strongly agree	122	20.8
Agree	324	55.3
Neither agree nor disagree	67	11.4
Disagree	58	9.9
Strongly disagree	15	2.6
Total	586	100

How would you rate the following industries for their impact on Arkansas' natural environment (natural resources such as lakes, rivers, soil, air, plants and wildlife)?
Arkansas Industry: Communications and information technology
	Frequency	Percent
Very environmentally destructive	29	5.3
Environmentally destructive	30	5.4
Neither destructive nor friendly	142	25.8
Environmentally friendly	229	41.6
Very environmentally friendly	121	22
Total	551	100

Arkansas Industry: Forestry/ forest products
	Frequency	Percent
Very environmentally destructive	48	8.4
Environmentally destructive	123	21.5
Neither destructive nor friendly	136	23.8
Environmentally friendly	195	34.1
Very environmentally friendly	70	12.2
Total	572	100

Arkansas Industry: Row crop farming
	Frequency	Percent
Very environmentally destructive	20	3.5
Environmentally destructive	44	7.7
Neither destructive nor friendly	145	25.3
Environmentally friendly	245	42.8
Very environmentally friendly	119	20.8
Total	573	100

Arkansas Industry: Health care
	Frequency	Percent
Very environmentally destructive	32	5.7
Environmentally destructive	46	8.2
Neither destructive nor friendly	162	28.8
Environmentally friendly	203	36.1
Very environmentally friendly	120	21.3
Total	563	100

Arkansas Industry: Heavy manufacturing
	Frequency	Percent
Very environmentally destructive	62	11.1
Environmentally destructive	159	28.4
Neither destructive nor friendly	176	31.4
Environmentally friendly	115	20.5
Very environmentally friendly	48	8.6
Total	560	100

Arkansas Industry: Petroleum and chemical production (including mining)
	Frequency	Percent
Very environmentally destructive	125	22.8
Environmentally destructive	209	38.1
Neither destructive nor friendly	113	20.6
Environmentally friendly	73	13.3
Very environmentally friendly	29	5.3
Total	549	100

Arkansas Industry: Poultry and livestock production
	Frequency	Percent
Very environmentally destructive	48	8.4
Environmentally destructive	104	18.2
Neither destructive nor friendly	163	28.5
Environmentally friendly	174	30.5
Very environmentally friendly	82	14.4
Total	571	100

Arkansas Industry: Tourism and recreation
	Frequency	Percent
Very environmentally destructive	19	3.2
Environmentally destructive	40	6.8
Neither destructive nor friendly	106	18
Environmentally friendly	256	43.4
Very environmentally friendly	169	28.6
Total	590	100

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© The Voice 2005
Revised 09/17/2007 02:09:48 PM— http://www.uamont.edu/Organizations/TheVoice/3_2/forest_products.htm