Community attitudes towards private native forestry in New South Wales

Abstract

An on-line survey during August–September 2006 examined community attitudes toward private native forestry. Views expressed by the 156 respondents confirmed prior hypotheses that attitudes would correlate with associations (e.g. professionals in favour of incentives, farmers in favour of freedom to manage, conservationists in favour of regulations), and with interest (biodiversity enthusiasts in favour of regulations, producers in favour of incentives), but refuted the prior hypotheses that urban dwellers would be more likely to favour regulations. Respondents appear to reflect different constituencies with divergent views without a shared understanding of the condition and dynamics of private native forests in NSW. This indicates the need for more extension and public education, particularly since forests continue to be an election issue. The survey did not gauge support for private native forestry, but helps to untangle the views from the constituencies promoting them. Regulatory approaches received most support from respondents affiliated with an environmental group, with a national concern for biodiversity, who fear that private native forests are in poor condition and will degrade further. Advocates for more landholder freedom tend to be landholders who believe that private native forests are in better condition than comparable State Forests, and who are optimistic about the future for private native forests. Advocates for incentives tend to be urban dwellers with a production focus and professional affiliation.