Visitor use surveys to begin on the National Forests in Florida

Tallahassee, Fla., (September 29, 2020) – From October of 2020 through September 2021, the public may encounter contract employees working on the National Forests in Florida to conduct the National Visitor Use Monitoring (NVUM) survey. The employees will be out in dispersed and developed recreation sites, and along Forest Service roads and trails. They will work in all weather conditions, be wearing bright orange vests and be near a sign that says, “Traffic Survey Ahead”. The NVUM survey gathers information that is useful for forest planning as well as community tourism. The survey provides estimates of the number of people recreating on National Forest System lands, the types of activities they engage in and the level of satisfaction they enjoy during their visit. The survey also captures impacts to the local economy. Participation in the surveys is voluntary and all responses remain confidential. The interviews take approximately 10 minutes to complete. The interviewer will ask where you recreated on the Forest, how many people traveled with you, how long you were on the Forest, what other recreation sites you visited while on the Forest, and how satisfied you are with the facilities and services provided. About one third of the visitors will be asked to complete a confidential survey on recreation spending during their trip. “We appreciate visitors volunteering to participate in the survey. The information gathered helps us assess visitor experiences so we can make the Forests a great place to visit,” said Kelly Russell, Forest Supervisor for the National Forests in Florida, “We hope to learn from locals who frequently visit the Forest, as well as visitors who have traveled to these sites.” Information about the National Visitor Use Monitoring program can be found at https://www.fs.fed.us/recreation/programs/nvum/ For more information on the National Forests in Florida, visit http://www.fs.usda.gov/florida.

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