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We began in 2006 as a group of researchers at the University of Maine who were trying to align our work with the needs of communities. Motivated in part by [...]

Jean M. O'Brien. Firsting and Lasting: Writing Indians out of Existence in New England. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 2010. 269 pp. Paper, $25.00. Jean M. O'Brien's new book, Firsting [...]

We conducted a survey of 272 campers at 18 private and public campgrounds in Maine (n = 101), New Hampshire (n = 88), and Vermont (n = 83) to learn about their firewood movement behavior, and knowledge and beliefs about invasive forest pests. More than 25 percent of respondents reported that they often or always brought firewood from home for camping. Most (92 percent) had heard of invasive forest pests, but <25 percent could name an example without being prompted, affirming a need for increasing exposure of outreach materials to facilitate activation of attitudes associated with forest pests and transport of firewood. Campers provided helpful suggestions to improve current outreach and education efforts such as illustrating more of the detrimental impacts forest pests have on trees near homes or recreation areas. For campers who believe their wood is safe and therefore okay to transport regardless of regulations, a need exists to re-message arguments. Furthermore, results suggest that some campers with low involvement who are less engaged and less inclined to seek out information may additionally need more direct approaches. Actions to better capture the attention of these campers could potentially include confiscating illegally transported firewood at check stations, issuing warnings, or administering fines for moving nonlocal or nonheat-treated firewood in order to obtain compliance with protective firewood regulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the 1990s, American Indian Nations assumed regulatory primacy over certain portions of federal environmental laws in the United States. For tribes that have not developed their own standards, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued policy statements aimed at incorporating tribal health and natural resources. While many communities of color have to fight to get heard in state and federal permitting processes, the U.S. EPA has made it an explicit mission to always include Indian Nations. Thus, "getting to the decision-making table" - a key goal of environmental justice groups - is presumably serving the interests of tribes seeking environmental justice. However, being involved in regulatory processes, as tribes are, may not be enough for Indian Nations or other communities of color. It is to this end that I write this article - should "getting to the table" be the ultimate goal for environmental justice groups, and how should this table be structured? [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]