Planting the Seeds for Knowledge Exchange in Canadian Forestry Perspectives from Forest Professionals on Trust, Barriers, and Preferences

Abstract

As environmental and social pressures affecting forestry continue to evolve, it is increasingly important that research informs practice and supports forest professionals in decision-making. The process by which research enters practice is known as knowledge exchange. Using a mixed-methods approach, combining a nationwide survey with semi-structured interviews, this study explores how forest professionals in Canada currently engage in knowledge exchange, their preferred methods for acquiring knowledge, the barriers they experience, and the state of trust they have in research, including the factors that influence that trust. The results show that forest professionals view research as a vital component of their work and primarily obtain knowledge through webinars, on-the-job training, forestry magazines, and newsletters. However, they express a strong preference for in-person methods, such as conferences and field tours. While collaboration with researchers is currently limited, many forest professionals expressed a desire for more direct involvement in research. Some also raised concerns about the applicability of academic research to operational practice. Trust in research and researchers was found to be moderately high, with particular emphasis on trust in the research process, and resilient against negative experiences. Based on these findings, this paper offers recommendations for researchers seeking to improve how they engage with forest professionals. Overall, strengthening knowledge exchange practices and being sensitive to the needs of forest professionals is essential to ensuring that research meaningfully contributes to sustainable forest management.