C.1 Name That Indicator

This exercise helps participants distinguish between indicators and other items (e.g., goals, issues, and targets) and is particularly useful for communities, which are just beginning to develop indicators.

Some of the items below are indicators – a measurement, something to which a numeric value can be attached and for which changes can be reported over time. Some of the items are not indicators but rather issues or problems. Still others are indicators but they have been stated as a goal or target. For each of the items, if it is an indicator, put a check in the box. Otherwise, restate it as an indicator (leaving off the goal).

	Item	Check if ok or reword if not an indicator
1	Percent of land that is forested
2	Number of private owners in the County
3	Growing trees
4	Size of average forest block
5	Species diversity
6	Retaining the current forest cover/acreage
7	Best management practices
8	Poverty rate
9	Number of wood processors with state-of-art mills
10	Education and training
11	Crime rate
12	Quality of life

Name that Indicator! (Answers)

Here are answers with some possible rewordings for non-indicators or indicators that were stated as a goal. A checkmark (√) means that, as worded, the item is a measurable indicator. If the item is not an indicator as worded, one or more possible indicators have been given that could be used as indicators for the item as originally written. Note that your suggested rewordings may be different. It is important that participants realize that none of the items or the reworded indicators listed are the only ‘correct' indicators. They are only suggested here to help participants understand what is meant by the term 'indicator.'

	Item	Check if OK or reword if not an indicator
1	Percent of land that is forested	√
2	Number of private owners in the County	√
3	Growing trees	% increase in forest cover % forest harvested at sustainable yield rate
4	Size of average forest block	√
5	Species diversity	Number of forest dependent species Forest dependent species as % of all species.
6	Retaining the current forest cover/acreage	% of land covered with forest (as stated, it was a goal where the % of forest cover stays the same from year to year)
7	Best management practices	% of forest land certified or registered under best management practices
8	Poverty rate	√
9	Number of wood processors with state-of-art mills	√
10	Education and training	Percent of population with college degree or higher. Percent of population with training in forestry related professions
11	Crime rate	√
12	Quality of life	Percent of local residents reporting high quality of life (based on a survey).