Adoption Behavior of Technical Assistance Foresters in the Southern Pine Region

Abstract

Abstract Evaluating the economic returns of forestry research has become a major concern of researchers and policy makers in the past decade. Before an accurate estimate of such returns can be estimated, however, information on the factors influencing individual adoption decisions and the timing of adoption needs to be understood. This paper presents the results of an analysis of the factors affecting assistance foresters' choices of management technology in the South. We surveyed public and private foresters assisting nonindustrial private forest landowners to determine what personal and external variables influence the adoption decisions of foresters. Specifically, we examined the variables related to the foresters' decisions to modify current management practices or use new technology. Using logit regression, we found that the forester's employer, information sources, professional membership, and perceptions of the management requirements in their region of responsibility can affect their adoption decisions. The research emphasis of even-aged management over the last 2 decades may be an additional factor in the foresters' decisions to change forest management decisions. For. Sci. 36(3):516-530.