Family forest owners' perception of decision support

Abstract

Family forest ownership today is shaped by multiple values that are entwined with varying lifestyles. The challenge for forestry extension services is to adapt reasonably to these cognitive, social and cultural patterns. Focusing on a decision support perspective, the present study adds to prior knowledge on family forest owners' wishes concerning forest planning. The aim is to identify forest owners' decision-making modes, and the connections between owner backgrounds and decision support anticipation. A psychological survey tool, measuring the degree of sharing of decision-making power and desire to learn, was constructed for data collection. Data were acquired through a postal survey in 2006 from 676 family forest owners in Finland. Multivariate analysis yielded three owner groups as fusions of decision-making modes serving the pre-hypothesis: trusting realizers (53%), active learners (27%) and independent managers (20%). The results suggest differently weighted decision support services (including both written/online information and spoken communication) for these owner groups. Education, occupational status and distance to the holding showed some association with the grouping. The theoretical basis and the methodological approach may be applied in conditions where family forest owners are advised and consulted by public or private endeavours.