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Summary
of Stakeholder and Public Input |
| The
Pennsylvania Biodiversity Partnership (PBP) conducted a broad stakeholder
and public input process to assist in developing the statewide Pennsylvania
Biodiversity Conservation Plan. As one part of this process, PBP
hosted a series of facilitated focus groups designed to gather critical
information and input from a broad range of stakeholders about important
biodiversity issues in Pennsylvania. The focus groups were facilitated
by The Drager Group, Morgantown, PA. In addition, a pencil-and-paper
survey was made available for the public to complete at conferences
and meetings attended by PBP staff as well as on the PBP website. |
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| The
objectives of the overall input process were: |
| • |
To
engage a broad range of individuals in the planning process by gathering
their perceptions about a range of topics concerning biodiversity. |
| • |
To
engage stakeholder groups in the planning process by gathering their
perceptions about a range of topics concerning biodiversity. |
| • |
To
document and summarize their input for use by PBP task forces and
the Biodiversity Conservation Plan Team in developing the Pennsylvania
Biodiversity Conservation Plan. |
| • |
As
a secondary objective, increase awareness of PBP, its activities,
and the development a statewide plan for conservation of biodiversity
in Pennsylvania. |
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| Overall
Results |
| • |
Fifteen
stakeholder focus groups were conducted. |
| • |
Approximately
11,000 individual responses were received for focus group topics.
|
| • |
680
public comment forms were completed. |
| • |
Every
county in the state was represented by at least one public comment
form. |
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Stakeholder
Focus Groups |
| The
facilitation process used in the focus groups was designed to provide
a high level of objectivity and to mitigate or reduce as much as
possible any participant bias and response contamination. Each topic
was presented individually and participants were allowed a few minutes
to record their responses on index cards. The responses were collected
and read to participants without comment. The topics presented to
each focus group were: |
| • |
What
are the five most important issues relative to biodiversity in Pennsylvania? |
| • |
What
are the five least important issues relative to biodiversity in
Pennsylvania? |
| • |
What
role should [participant’s organization/type of organization]
play in biodiversity conservation in Pennsylvania? |
| • |
Relative
to accomplishing the specific mission of the organization(s) participants
represent, what should be in the biodiversity conservation plan? |
| • |
Relative
to accomplishing the specific mission of the organization(s) participants
represent, what should not be in the biodiversity conservation plan? |
| • |
What
is the participant’s vision of the best achievable condition
of biodiversity in Pennsylvania in ten years? |
| • |
What
format(s) should the plan be in? Should the plan include maps? If
yes, what types? If no, why not? |
| • |
Other
suggestions and comments. |
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|
Focus Group Participants and Location of Focus Group Meetings (see
map at top of page) |
| • |
Department
of Conservation and Natural Resources, Harrisburg |
| • |
Forest products
industry representatives, Kane |
| • |
Governor’s
Advisory Council on Hunting, Fishing, and Conservation, Erie |
| • |
Oil and gas
industry representatives, Warren |
| • |
Pennsylvania
Academy of Science, Monroeville |
| • |
Pennsylvania
Association of Environmental Educators, Altoona |
| • |
Pennsylvania
Association of Environmental Professionals, Eastern Section, Blue
Bell |
| • |
Pennsylvania
Association of Environmental Professionals, Western Section, Pittsburgh
|
| • |
Pennsylvania
Biodiversity Partnership Board, Warren |
| • |
Pennsylvania
Biological Survey Steering Committee, Kempton |
| • |
Pennsylvania
Fish and Boat Commission, Harrisburg |
| • |
Pennsylvania
Forest Products Association, State College |
| • |
Pennsylvania
Game Commission, Harrisburg |
| • |
Southeastern
Pennsylvania land trusts, Doylestown |
| • |
Southwestern
Pennsylvania land trusts, Sewickley |
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| Focus
Group Results: Issues |
| • |
General agreement on most important issues. |
| • |
Most important issues include habitat (loss, fragmentation, preservation), education, invasive species, need for comprehensive statewide planning, and deer management. |
| • |
Less agreement on least important issues, but the most frequently mentioned response was focusing on individual species or habitats. |
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| Focus
Group Results: Contents of the Biodiversity Plan |
| • |
Overwhelmingly, participants identified the need for clear and well-defined strategies in the plan. |
| • |
The plan should NOT focus on individual species or habitat. |
| • |
The plan should avoid specific recommendations on regulations or laws and restrictions on the rights of individual landowners and developers.
|
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|
Public Comment Forms |
|
The public comment form was designed as a simple method of gathering
input from diverse individuals through a short pencil-and-paper
format (see sample comment form). These
forms were administered by PBP staff at conferences, meetings, lectures,
and focus groups as well as available on the PBP website. A total
of 680 forms was completed at locations throughout the state. Every
county in the state is represented by one or more completed comment
forms (see map at top of page). A summary of the answers is presented
below in descending order of the number of responses. |
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|
Public Comment Forms: Greatest Threats to Biodiversity |
| • |
Development/sprawl
|
| • |
Habitat
loss |
| • |
Invasive
species |
| • |
Pollution |
| • |
Poor
land planning |
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|
Public Comment Forms: What Issues Should be Included in the Biodiversity
Plan |
| • |
Research
and education |
| • |
Development
of a statewide & community-based effort and plan |
| • |
Wetland
preservation |
| • |
Preservation
of land and open space |
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Development
of county and local guidelines |
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|
Public Comment Forms: Specific Areas or Habitats to Preserve |
| • |
Variety
of specific local and regional sites |
| • |
All
of Pennsylvania |
| • |
Wetlands |
| • |
Water
resources and watersheds |
| • |
Appalachian
Mountains |
| • |
Old
growth forests |
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| Full
Public Input Report (7 pages, PDF) |
|
Sample Public Comment Form (2 pages, PDF) |
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