The study examines the effects of hurricane Lothar on interest groups. Differences between the groups with respect to interests and latent or overt conflicts based on them were ascertained by means of a qualitative process. A total of 25 persons were interviewed between December 2000 and June 2001.
The results of the study show that all of the interest groups were extensively affected on an ideational level. In the case of interest groups with professional connections with the forest, the changes predominantly involved the volume and nature of their work. A desire was expressed for more advice on dealing with storms and for more active dissemination of information. Lothar gave rise to hardly any new conflicts, however existing conflicts were rekindled. More effective co-operation between the different interest groups is possible and desirable in the context of a broadly-based approach to problem resolution.