Institutional Aspects of Forest Recreation Resource Management in West Germany

Abstract

Although West Germany is the size of Oregon, the nation's population, much of it urban, is more than thirty times the population of that state. In order to provide recreation for a large urban population from a very limited resource base, West Germany has developed institutions that differ markedly from those in the United States. These include general access to all forest lands irrespective of ownership, restrictions on hunting and use of motorized vehicles, extensive land use controls, multiple use management of most forests, and a strong role for foresters in resolving conflicts between recreation and other uses. As forests in the United States experience increased recreational demands from urbanites, it is possible that the Goman experience can provide useful guides for strategies to meet those requirements.