Public understandings of nature: A case study of local knowledge about "natural" forest conditions

This study is intended to serve as an explicit and specific example of the social construction of nature. It is motivated by the need to develop a mor e sophisticated language for a critical public dialogue about society's rel ationship with nature. We conducted a case study of environmental discourse in one local population in hopes of better understanding how a place-based community of environmental stakeholders relates to its local natural envir onment. We did this by analyzing discussions with local residents about the values and physical indicators they associated with the wild, authentic, h ealthy, and natural qualities of the forest. Findings from this type of stu dy (such as our finding of "cultured naturalness") can enable a more sophis ticated discussion about which of the many possible natural conditions are desirable environmental conditions for the future.