Maine woodland owner perceptions of long rotation woody biomass harvesting and bioenergy

Abstract

Predicting and understanding timber supply is a central component to the viability of the wood-based bioenergy industry. Available timber supply from private woodland owners is difficult to estimate because complex behavioral theory informs the owner's decision to harvest. The decision-making environment consists of exogenous market factors, internal cognitive processes, and social interactions. This study seeks to understand the cognitive factors influencing the decision to harvest timber for bioenergy markets. Specifically, we seek an understanding of how private woodland owner values contribute to their attitudes and willingness to harvest biomass from their land. Thirty-two semi-structured interviews were conducted with private woodland owners (PWOs) who had previously harvested timber (n = 26), had never harvested timber (n = 6), and had harvested timber for woody biomass markets (n = 9). Results indicate some PWOs expressed a willingness to supply timber for biomass (63%), most held anthropocentric values (81%), and all expressed unfamiliarity with biomass markets. Many PWOs had concerns about biomass harvesting, including nutrient removal, economic efficiency, and impact on statewide harvesting levels. These results help provide insight to available timber supply for the bioenergy industry and potential educational opportunities for better informing landowners.