Conflict over natural resource management: A social indicator based on analysis of online news media text

An indicator of the level of conflict over natural resource management was developed and applied to the case of U.S. national forest policy and manage ment. Computer-coded content analysis was used to identify expressions of c onflict in a national database of almost 10,000 news media stories about th e U.S. Forest Service. Changes in the amount of news media discussion invol ving conflict were tracked over the 5-year period from 1992 through 1996. T he relative level of conflict over national forest policy and management me asured by this indicator was found to correspond with major conflict-relate d events during this time period. This social indicator could be used to ev aluate policies intended to reduce conflict, monitor contentious issues, an d identify emerging areas of conflict.