The public debate about roads on the national forests - An analysis of thenews media, 1994-98

Computers methods were used to analyze attitudes and beliefs expressed in a large data-base of new stores about roads on the US national forests. The view that forest roads are important for recreational use and access was ex pressed most frequently,followed by the belief that roads cause environment al damage. Analyzing the debate about forest roads as it is reflected in th e news media is one way to monitor the changing context in which forest man agement decisions and policies need to be made.