Private Forest Owners Research Articles

Contingent valuation of landowner demand for forest amenities: application in Andalusia, Spain

Abstract We applied discrete choice contingent valuation to the amenities consumed by non-industrial private forest owners in Andalusia (Spain) in a survey of 765 landowners. The landowners’ median willingness to accept compensation from an alternative investment for giving up land amenity consumption is EUR 387.8 per hectare yearly. The preferred model shows diminishing marginal values of amenity consumption with property size, negative effects of eucalyptus and Aleppo pine presence and positive effects of distance to urban centres. We discuss the performance of the question formats and models employed and recommend the single-bounded format in this valuation context.

Meta-analysis of landowner participation in voluntary incentive programs for provision of forest ecosystem services.

Many voluntary incentive programs for provision of forest ecosystem services (ES) have low participation rates, insufficient enrollment areas, and inefficient ecological outcomes. Understanding participation behavior in such programs has therefore become a crucial part of policy success. We synthesized a large body of literature on the behavior of nonindustrial private forest owners based on surveys of stated (intended) participation or data on actual participation in existing or hypothetical programs. Using metaregression analysis, we examined how methodological, program‐characteristic, and economic‐incentive variables affected participation rate estimates. Participation rates tended to be overestimated when landowner participation was elicited in hypothetical choice situations (compared with real situations) and when dichotomous choice surveys (compared with census data) were used. The marginal effect sizes were quite large, for example, a 31% increase with use of stated choices in hypothetical scenarios, and practitioners should therefore be aware of them. However, use of choice experiment surveys in a modified scenario based on existing programs had no effect on participation when all other determinants were controlled for. Participation rates decreased significantly as length of the contract increased and when there was no withdrawal option. These results suggest that perpetual contracts have a lower negative impact on participation than time‐limited contracts with a duration of over 50 years. We confirmed that as compensation amounts increased, participation increased. One‐time up‐front payments were more effective in increasing initial participation than annual payments for contracts of over 5 years. We identified the robust determinants and the effect sizes of those determinants on landowner participation rate estimates, thereby contributing to a better understanding of forest owner behavior and offering useful insights to enable researchers and resource managers to improve the design and efficiency of new and existing forest ES programs.

At the limit of volunteerism? Swedish family forest owners and two policy strategies to increase forest biodiversity

Sweden is not on track to meet its own national 2020 environmental goals for sustainable forests. Due to the deliberate design of Swedish forest policy, private forest owners’ voluntary forest and biodiversity protection efforts are required to help close the policy gap. Using survey data from Swedish family forest owners, this paper outlines how forest owner attitudes reveal challenges and opportunities for two general strategies to increasing forest and biodiversity protection. The first strategy is attempting to institute changes within status quo Swedish forest policy by relying on family forest owners to make such changes voluntarily. The second strategy is encouraging management changes by using policy reforms. Our qualitative results suggest that Swedish forest policy is close to the limit of what can be accomplished with volunteerism alone and likely requires policy reforms to close its forest and biodiversity protection gap on family-owned forests.

Private Forest Owner Characteristics Affect European Spruce Bark Beetle Management under an Extreme Weather Event and Host Tree Density

In the last few decades, an increasing number and intensity of bark beetle outbreaks have plagued the forests of Europe and North America. Bark beetle management is directly related to forest owner characteristics, although this relationship is not well understood. The purpose of the study was to investigate the influence of forest owner characteristics on the amount and timing of sanitary felling under different disturbance regimes and quantities of Norway spruce. We combined different databases on sanitary felling, the timing of sanitary felling, and forest owner characteristics for Slovenia from 2014 to 2018 and analyzed the amount and timing of sanitary felling in relation to forest owner characteristics. We found that the timing in winter and the amount of sanitary felling were positively associated with the distance of the owner’s residence to the forest parcel. Larger parcels were more affected by bark beetles but did not have later timing of cutting in the summer period as was hypothesized. The timing of sanitary felling decreased with property size, while with the probability of sanitary felling, the effect of property depended on the ice storm and the amount of spruce. The size of the settlement, the permanent address of the private owner, and timing of sanitary felling were positively associated but also depended on the amount of spruce. Gender and age did not have an important influence on the amount and timing of sanitary felling. Forest owners are an important factor in effective bark beetle management. This study highlights the private forest ownership characteristics that should be emphasized in order to fight bark beetle outbreaks in the event of large-scale disturbances. Governments should support forest owners who are at greater risk of bark beetle outbreaks and less efficient in managing outbreaks. Furthermore, landowner characteristics should be included when forecasting bark beetle outbreaks.

Assessing the Value Extension Adds to Decision- Making Among Natural Resources Leaders

Extension professionals face challenges in quantifying the impact of their efforts in advancing the decision-making process inherent in setting natural resources policy. We developed a flexible tool that measures the impact of improving decision makers’ planning efforts. The tool consists of two sets of survey questions that can be modified to fit an Extension program’s goals. We illustrated how to use the tool by surveying leaders working with private forest owners to advance natural resources management. However, the tool can be of use to Extension professionals across various program areas.

Developing the persona method to increase the commitment of non-industrial private forest owners in French forest policy priorities

In Europe, 60% of the forest area is privately owned, with a significant proportion of nonindustrial private forest (NIPF) being highly fragmented with, in particular, low intensity forest management. Numerous typologies have therefore been developed to provide detailed guidance to policy makers for the design of policy instruments to involve these owners in forest management approaches. However, these policy instruments fail to involve all categories of owners and there is no method made by and with people locally in charge of policy implementation to increase the commitment of NIPF owners. The main objective of this study is to adapt the persona method, which is a central user-centered design tool, to design typologies of NIPF owners as future users of policy instruments. We have designed our personas in the Vosges territory (France), in the context of the main French forest policy objective of increasing timber harvesting and NIPF sustainable management. Our results designed eight types of personas as well as a six-part composition of the persona sheet. The main interest is to provide a general methodology to forest policy and forest managers based on rigorous concepts of usercentered design processes and co-creation, to implement operational tools for NIFP management. Finally, both future developments and methodological limitations are discussed in a global research perspective.

Where and When Carbon Storage can be Bought Cost Effectively from Private Forest Owners.

The role of time in estimating the cost of forest carbon is often ignored in the literature, nor does the literature address the issues of where and when the purchase of forest carbon storage becomes socially beneficial. In our study, we identify the spatial and temporal allocations of forest carbon investments that are socially beneficial based on empirical analysis. We use the Central and Southern Appalachian region in the Eastern United States as a case study over three periods (i.e., 1992-2001, 2001-2006, and 2006-2011) that are roughly in line with moderate, upturn, and downturn market conditions. The areas from which it is socially beneficial to buy carbon storage are mainly in flat terrain and further away from urban boundaries, hence facing lower development pressure and lower urban net returns. These areas also have less urban land and more forestland. The mapping of carbon cost over the three market conditions in our case study also indicates that the socially beneficial carbon area shrinks as the opportunity cost increases when the real-estate market evolves from a moderately growing to a booming market. The socially beneficial carbon area shrinks further as the demand from urban development on forestland collapses when the real-estate market enters a downturn stage.

To log or not to log? Actor preferences and networks in Swiss forest policy

Forests play a fundamental role in climate change mitigation. While there are calls to store carbon by increasing the forest stock, other actors oppose this, arguing that carbon stored in processed timber is more adequate. Applying an adapted version of the policy network analysis (PNA) framework, we uncover both the actors' policy preferences regarding the goal conflict between carbon storage in the forest versus in timber products as well as the actors' perceived importance and information sharing in the forest policy network in a Swiss region (canton Lucerne) via an online stakeholder survey. We find that an increase of carbon storage in the forest does not stand a chance in the Lucerne forest policy network, being rejected by nearly two-thirds of the actors. A majority views increased harvesting for wood products as a superior climate change mitigation measure than harvesting less for carbon storage. We also find that these proponents of wood are more central actors within the policy networks than those in favour of carbon storage in the forest. These findings are relevant for a context where the majority of the forest is privately owned and where interests in timber harvesting might dominate those on carbon storage. The analysis reflects the challenging situation within the timber market, where measures for increased wood harvesting might provide a more acceptable policy option than carbon sequestration for private forest owners.

Variation Between Voivodships in Terms of Forest Area and Silviculture Activities in Polish Forests in 2015-2019

The objective of the study reported here was to compare voivodships in terms of forest area, forest regeneration area, afforested area, thinned forest area and natural forest regeneration area Main Statistical Office data for Polish voivodships was analysed. It included forest area, natural forest regeneration and silviculture activities (forest regeneration, afforestations and thinning) in all forests, state-owned forests and privately-owned forests. Voivodships were compared using the arithmetic mean, the indicator of structure, the average rate of change, principal component analysis and cluster analysis. Principal Component Analysis, revealed that state-owned forest area, forest regeneration in state forests, total forest regeneration, and thinning in state-owned forests had the greatest share in the multivariate variation among voivodships analysed in terms of forestry. Cluster analysis yielded two groups of voivodships. The voivodships in the first group had a higher average total forest area, area of state-owned forests, total area of forest regeneration and forest regeneration in state-owned forests, area of natural forest regeneration and thinning in state-owned forests. On average, forests of voivodships which formed group 2 included less privately-owned forests in which fewer forest regeneration and afforestation activities had been conducted. Opolskie and Śląskie Voivodships as well as Łódzkie and Świętokrzyskie Voivodships were the most similar in terms of all the analysed characteristics.

Interest in vegetatively propagated Norway spruce materials – a survey among Finnish forest owners and professionals

Forests and forestry will encounter several changes of unknown magnitude within the coming decades. In the Nordic, long rotations complicate any anticipation to the upcoming changes. Tree breeding can contribute to coping with these changes. The time span of implementing breeding results in practice may be shortened through vegetative propagation. Introducing vegetative propagation to forest regeneration may phase several challenges before adopted by the industry, some of which are related to perceptions about new technology. Firstly, private forest owners are in a key role in implementing the technology in practice; although they do not represent the overall public, they are the decision makers in their own estates regarding forestry and forest regeneration. Secondly, the professionals related to the production of forest regeneration material and plants from forest species are in a key role when it comes to practically introducing the new technology to the forest owners. In this survey, perceptions of forest owners and professionals towards tree breeding and vegetative propagation were investigated. Additionally, the respondents were asked which traits they considered important to be improved by breeding, and their willingness to pay for these improved traits. The respondents valued the most: improved pest and pathogen resistance, improved resilience of forest in changing climate, and securing the species’ gene pool. Responses indicated that forest owners would be willing to pay more for the improved traits in forest regeneration material. The current novel study provides a foundation to concern public awareness regarding tree breeding and vegetative propagation in the future.

Further Development of a New Concept in Small Scale Forestry: “Forest-Management-Service-Contracts” in Bavaria

The forests in Bavaria cover about one third of its land area or 2.56 Mio hectares (ha) and the major part of this forest is held by private forest owners. Around 700 000 landlords manage approximately 1.4 Mio ha. In Bavaria, about 130 Forest Owner Associations (FOAs) play a key role in managing the small scale forests. In the last years, a new concept in small scale forest management arose, “Forest-Management-Service-Contract” (FMSC). The statutory corporations needed a proper management for their forests accordingly the German forest laws and the FOA took the chance to adopt a new business concept. In Bavaria exist about 3000 forest-management-service-contracts, covering over 40.000 hectares. In a current project “Further development of the successful concept – Forest-Management-Service-Contracts – through economic analysis” will be elaborated a data base for the better understanding of the crucial to success factors of FMSC. The economic analysis of the FMSC will base on business process analysis related to the administration of FMSC, on economic operating figures deviated from a single contract analysis and performance data. This information base aims to optimize the contracting process and to reduce the risks related to unknown hazards of the single FMSC.

Analiza delovanja zveze lastnikov gozdov Slovenije s ciljem njenega izboljšanja - ali obstajajo možnosti za vzpostavitev novih poslovnih modelov sodelovanja s člani?

The Slovenian Forest Owners Association (FOAS), which connects local associations of private forest owners at the national level, is facing the problem of professionalizing its activities. Thus, its activities are limited. In order to improve the operation of the FOAS and possible business cooperation with its members within the framework of new business models, we conducted interviews with representatives of FOAS members (n = 24). FOAS members are satisfied with the work of the FOAS, mainly due to its involvement in the legislative process. FOAS members expect that the FOAS will become active in the area of joint timber sales in the future, which is why they showed great interest in business cooperation with the FOAS towards coordinated timber sales. In order to implement this new business model, it is first necessary to promote coordinated sales among forest owners, provide suitable personnel and establish links between timber suppliers and buyers.

Suitability of contract-based nature conservation in privately-owned forests in Germany

The successful implementation of contract-based nature conservation in privately-owned forests requires a framework of reasonable operational measures. Our study aimed at developing such a framework by; 1) defining forest conservation objects including structures, processes, and habitat types, 2) assessing their conservation value based on the need for, and worthiness of, protection, 3) reviewing the suitability of contract-based measures for conservation. Overall, we defined 67 conservation objects, with 8 of them used as case studies: deadwood, habitat trees, natural succession after large-scale disturbance, coppice-with-standards, bog and fen woodlands, dry sand pine forests, and beech forests. We considered contract-based conservation suitable if, within the contract period, outcomes of measures resulted in ecological upgrading or avoidance of value loss. We identified contract-based conservation suitable for 42 combinations of objects and measures. Our approach of assessing the potential of contract-based measures for forest conservation is novel with regards to its broad range of objects, defined criteria, and various contract periods. It can help to progress conservation and improve outcomes of measures, especially in privately-owned forests in Germany. Further prerequisites are sufficient financial resources, effective administration, consultancy and the mid- to long-term stability of funding programmes.

Государственное управление лесами Польши

Рассматривается государственное управление лесами в Польше. Проанализирована динамика состояния лесных ресурсов страны, объёмов их заготовки и цен на древесную продукцию. Особое внимание уделено структуре и функциям органов управления государственными лесами Польши и их сотрудничеству с частными владельцами лесов. Результаты управления лесами определяются состоянием лесных ресурсов, динамикой их изменения, объёмами заготовки древесины с учётом цен на неё и специализацией Польши на выпуске конечной продукции из древесины. The purpose of this article is to study the experience, results and the very model of managing Polish forests. Since the Polish and Russian forests are in similar conditions and have a similar level of forestry development, the successful experience of one country can be adopted by another country. The most significant condition bringing our countries together is the predominance of state ownership of forests. The article discusses the Polish model of forest management, including the structure of state forest management bodies and their functions. The article also traces the understanding by the Polish leadership of the mission and the role of forests in the development of society. Improving the management of the forest sector should cover all stages from forest cultivation, harvesting and processing to obtaining finished products of deep processing. Therefore, the results of applying the Polish forest management model are determined in the article by the state of forest resources, the dynamics of their change, the volume of timber harvested taking into account its prices and Poland’s specialization in the production of final wood products. To identify successes in forest management, we studied the dynamics of changes in the state of Poland’s forest resources, their harvesting volumes and prices for wood products. Particular attention is paid to the cooperation of state forest management bodies with private forest owners. Thanks to the creation of the state forest holding, Poland managed to establish an effective forest management system. Having financial independence from the state budget, the holding is working successfully, implementing sustainable forestry and making a profit. The statistics considered in this article demonstrate the positive dynamics of the formation of forest resources in Poland, a steady increase in timber harvesting and processing, as well as the achievement of high rates of specialization in deep wood processing products on the world market. This is evidenced by a significant increase in the role of Poland in the global production and export of furniture.

Stakeholder perceptions, management and impacts of forestry conflicts in southern Sweden

ABSTRACT Forests are under increasing pressure with increasing risk of conflicts between stakeholder groups with different interests in sustainable forest management (SFM). This study investigated the different dimensions of conflict as perceived by private forest owners and other stakeholders, and the likely impact of these pressures on SFM in a southern Swedish context. Data were collected through a mixed methods approach using qualitative in-depth individual semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions and a quantitative survey (n = 6–161), with questions on present and past conflicts, actors, drivers, acting, management and solutions. Stakeholders felt that in the past the conflicts were more about technical dimensions of forestry practice, and today more about the political and cultural dimensions of forestry issues. The most frequently mentioned reason for forest conflict was forest protection, especially woodland key habitats. In all conflicts, forest owners emphasised the importance of knowledge, responsibility and emotions. Other stakeholders did too, but with emotions less emphasised. In managing conflict, meetings, adaptation and education were stressed by stakeholders. Dialogue arenas on different levels are needed for all stakeholders. Governing bodies also need to realise the implication different approaches and strategies have on forest owners management.

A Utility Maximized Harvest Decision Model for Privately Owned Coniferous Forests in the Republic of Korea

This study examined optimal harvesting decisions of multiple age-class private forests that maximize private forest owners’ utility. For this analysis, we developed two scenarios. One scenario was to maintain the harvest level currently performed in the Republic of Korea (ROK) (baseline scenario), and the other was to harvest according to the harvest prescription derived from the discrete-time utility model with a multiple age-class forest (optimization scenario). For the baseline scenario, the cohort component approach was applied to predict changes in the forest’s age structure under the given harvest level. For the optimization scenario, we applied a discrete-time utility model that can describe the consumption and cutting behavior of private forest owners who manage a multiple age-class forest. Then, we compared the changes of the timber supply level and forest structure dynamic by scenarios. The results showed that current harvesting in ROK is not at its optimal level. The baseline scenario results showed that if the current level of harvesting is maintained, a total of 1,315,000 m3 of soft wood will be supplied annually. However, the average annual wood supply will increase to 11,522,000 m3 under the maximized utility scenario. In terms of timber self-sufficiency, if all domestic wood produced is supplied as materials, the supply level from the optimization scenario will meet the government’s policy goal of a 30% timber self-sufficiency rate. However, if the baseline scenario is maintained, supply shortages can be expected by 2050.

CNN-Based Tree Species Classification Using High Resolution RGB Image Data from Automated UAV Observations

Data on the distribution of tree species are often requested by forest managers, inventory agencies, foresters as well as private and municipal forest owners. However, the automated detection of tree species based on passive remote sensing data from aerial surveys is still not sufficiently developed to achieve reliable results independent of the phenological stage, time of day, season, tree vitality and prevailing atmospheric conditions. Here, we introduce a novel tree species classification approach based on high resolution RGB image data gathered during automated UAV flights that overcomes these insufficiencies. For the classification task, a computationally lightweight convolutional neural network (CNN) was designed. We show that with the chosen CNN model architecture, average classification accuracies of 92% can be reached independently of the illumination conditions and the phenological stages of four different tree species. We also show that a minimal ground sampling density of 1.6 cm/px is needed for the classification model to be able to make use of the spatial-structural information in the data. Finally, to demonstrate the applicability of the presented approach to derive spatially explicit tree species information, a gridded product is generated that yields an average classification accuracy of 88%.

Exploring Environmental Attitudes and Forest Program Uptake with Nonindustrial Private Forest Owners in Michigan

Government programs in the United States offer benefits and opportunities to help private landowners manage their forests; however, participation is very low. Currently, little is known about the barriers landowners may face in accessing information about these programs. Using a landowner survey across four counties in Michigan, we investigate this by (1) exploring current participation in forest programs and (2) analyzing if landowners experience barriers to learning more about the programs available. We find that landowners who are older, perceive themselves as active managers, and are members of a land management organization are more likely to participate in forest programs. Our results also indicate that those wanting to learn more about the programs available have more dominant environmental viewpoints (e.g. humans have the right to modify and rule over nature). We argue that targeted approaches, for example, partnering with private landowner organizations, may increase landowner participation in government forest programs.

Problems and Challenges: A Private Forest Purchase Method for National Forest Expansion in South Korea

This study analyzes the appraisal procedure for government purchasing of privately-owned forests in Korea, in terms of current status, existing procedures, and appraisal cases. The method is a widely conducted instrument of national forest expansion policy. For the purchase status, the purchase targets of private forests, unit price, and purchase records are analyzed. The purchase procedure is to analyze the process from the sale agreement submission of the owner to the transfer of ownership after completion of sales. The appraisal cases analyze the appraisal results according to the actual purchase of private forests. Three of the procedure’s most problematic aspects are identified: The selection of appraisal companies, the failure to include the value of standing trees, and ambiguities in appraisal criteria. The study suggests some ways of improving the continuing implementation of the national forest expansion program through ongoing purchases of privately-owned forests. Firstly, the selection process for appraisal companies needs to be improved by independent third-party institutions or a competitive bidding system. Secondly, since forests are classified into standing trees and forest land, these two categories need to be appraised separately rather than together, as is often currently the case. Thirdly, since appraisal factors are currently based primarily on appraisers’ subjective experience and knowledge, there is a need both for developing more objective appraisal criteria as well as for improving the training of appraisers themselves, to increase their level of expertise and ensure greater objectivity in forest appraisal.

Forms of Cooperation of Lithuanian Forest Owners: A Case Review

There are many ways for private forest owners (PFOs) to manage their properties. One way is to manage it by oneself, to use the individual approach; however, our focus is on a cooperative solution, which, in many cases, is much more challenging due to the incorporation of multiple players and the structure of their forests, not to mention the needs and objectives related to forest management. Cooperative forest management has different forms, as shown by numerous socio-economic theoretical and empirical findings. This paper discusses how the traditional organisational forms of cooperation among Lithuanian forest owners are operating and more specifically, how they are adopting their performance in addressing the goals of forest management. A case study is used to show how cooperation among private forest owners has been developing in Lithuania over recent years and finds some new forms of cooperational management.