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Though the federal government impacts private forest management across the United States through legislation such as the Clean Water Act, state-level regulations applied to private forest landowners vary remarkably. Despite this diversity of policies, little is known about how variations in regulatory intensity (defined here as number of forestry regulations) correlate with state-level political and socioeconomic characteristics. In this study, we use a quantitative approach to explore the intensity of regulation on forest practices impacting private landowners across all 50 states. We quantified intensity by tabulating the number of regulated forest practices, then used a quasi-Poisson regression to estimate the relationship between regulatory intensity and state-level characteristics, including forestland ownership types, the economic importance of the forest industry, and measures of state environmentalism. Results indicated a positive association between regulatory intensity and the percent of private corporate land, environmental voting records of elected officials, and direct democracy. Foresters and landowners may learn from these relationships, consider how to influence different policies, and build or achieve greater levels of public trust. This study starts to help us explain why state-level forestry policies differ, not just how they differ. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Riparian buffer zones (RBZs) are an important instrument for environmental policies for water and biodiversity protection in managed forests. We investigate the variation of the cost of implementing RBZs within different property size classes across the size range of non-industrial forest owner properties in Southern Sweden. Using the Heureka PlanWise decision support system, we quantified the cost of setting aside RBZs or applying alternative management in them, as the relative loss of harvest volume and of net present value per property. We did this for multiple simulated as well as real-world property distributions. The variation of cost distribution among small properties was 4.2–6.9 times higher than among large properties. The interproperty cost inequality decreased non-linearly with increasing property size and levelled off from around 200 ha. We conclude that RBZs, due to the irregular distribution of streams, cause highly unequal financial consequences for owners, with some small property owners bearing a disproportionally high cost. This adds to previous studies showing how environmental considerations differentially affect property owners. We recommend decision makers to stimulate the uptake of RBZs by alleviating these inequalities between forest owners by including appropriate cost sharing or compensation mechanisms in their design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Integrating the conservation of biodiversity into silvicultural practices is one of the main challenges facing forest owners in the promotion of an emergent approach to sustainable forest management across European forests. The Mediterranean forests are among the richest biodiverse forest ecosystems due to their environmental heterogeneity, but climate change is threatening their integrity, with critical implications for the availability of ecosystem services. Forests managed for commercial purposes are under increasing pressure to provide timber while supporting biodiversity. This study aims to analyse the relationship between tree-related microhabitats (TreMs), which are structures occurring on living or standing dead trees that constitute an essential substrate for several living species, and beetles, an important indicator species group for forest biodiversity monitoring. Four generalized linear models were fitted to assess the influence of environmental factors, forest structure, and biodiversity-related parameters on the abundance and richness of beetles, mainly on saproxylic beetles. The study highlights significant associations between the abundance and richness of individual groups and types of TreMs and the Italian Red List of saproxylic species. Therefore, TreMs can serve as a tool to map, monitor, and enhance forest biodiversity in managed forests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tenure conflict is a challenge and dilemma experienced by many countries. The dilemma is because on the one hand, there is an interest in preserving forests, on the other hand, there are claims to land ownership in forest areas long before they are designated as forest areas. The next dilemma is that the party claiming property rights is generally used for agricultural activities which have been the main livelihood for generations. This study tries to examine the incidence of tenure conflicts in various countries to map how these conflicts occur, the factors that encourage land tenure approaches in resolving them, and government (state) policies. Using secondary data resulting from a review of previous research published in reputable international journals and other reliable and credible reports. The review study model used is systematic with meta-synthesis. Apart from journals, secondary data comes from other reliable and credible reports. Data and materials consist of 67 reputable international journals and 14 books/reports published in the last ten years. The results of the analysis found that tenure conflicts were caused by many things, motivated by the ownership and interests of natural resources specifically for agriculture for the lives of the surrounding community. An interesting fact is that the handling of tenure conflicts in several countries is considered successful, marked by the provision of access to forest management ownership. Other studies such as those conducted in Latin America, Africa, and Asia offer partnership models to resolve tenure conflicts. Similar things have also been done in Indonesia but have not been completely successful. Learning from this, this research offers a model for developing forest management partnerships to resolve tenure conflicts in forest areas, while also accommodating special agricultural activities for local communities. The model offered theoretically complements and/or perfects the models used so far which have proven unsuccessful in resolving conflicts. The practical implications are a reference for the government and interested parties to resolve tenure conflicts so that forests are maintained and can provide benefits for community welfare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forest ecological benefit compensation protects the ecological environment, increases enthusiasm among forest ecological builders, protects the legitimate economic interests of forest landowners, and maintains environmental security. In this study, a systematic analysis was conducted on 4062 publications in the field of international forest ecological benefit compensation identified using the Web of Science core collection Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-E) and Social Science Citation Index (SSCI) databases alongside CiteSpace optical measurement software. The research status and influence of countries were tracked, scientific research institutions and important authors were identified, and interdisciplinary and scientific hotspots were analyzed. The results show that the number of studies in this field has significantly increased over time and has strong development potential. The journals and articles presenting cutting-edge research in this field are all considered highly professional. The selected research is highly interdisciplinary but primarily involves environmental science and ecology. Despite the publication volume of China ranking second among the top 10 countries, its average citation volume was the lowest, indicating the urgent need to increase the international influence of China. Forest biodiversity, ecosystem services, and climate change are current research hotspots in this field. Dynamic changes in forest ecological benefit compensation and the driving forces behind its evolution are of great concern to researchers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the southern United States (US), female forest landowners (FeFLs) constitute 27% of family forest landowners, owning approximately 12.1 million ha of forestland. With changing demographic trends, FeFLs will likely own more forestlands in the foreseeable future. Understanding FeFLs' perceptions of ecosystem services (ESs) is vital as their management decisions will impact the flow of forest-based ESs. Our study used a mental model approach to comprehensively understand FeFLs' socio-cultural perceptions of ESs. Interviews with 39 FeFLs in Georgia, US, highlighted diverse perceptions of forest-based ESs encompassing cultural, provisioning, regulating, and supporting services. The FeFLs' mental model revealed five thematic areas on ESs perceptions: economics, personal enjoyment, family and heritage, forestland as a place for social activity, and environmental benefits. The economics theme emerged distinctly regardless of their ownership type or forestland proximity, whereas personal enjoyment, family and heritage, and forestland as a place for social activity demonstrated place attachment. Co-owners linked forest management more closely to economics than sole-owners. Residential FeFLs valued social benefits, while non-residential landowners emphasized biodiversity significance. Our findings provide crucial insights for shaping inclusive strategies and policies, enhancing forest management among FeFLs, fostering a sense of community, and ensuring the sustainability of forestlands in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Private forest land policies in the U.S. differ by state and range from regulatory to non-regulatory. The state of California has a highly regulatory policy system to ensure sustainable forest management, and the state's family forest landowners, who hold 20% of the state's forests, navigate this regulatory system to achieve their management objectives. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 33 family forest landowners to better understand their perceptions of state forest policies, including the policies' efficacy and how they impact landowner behavior. We found that participants voiced general acceptance of California's forest policies, though they described significant concerns because of financial burdens and regulatory uncertainty. They had nuanced views regarding how the policies protect public trust resources and private property rights, suggesting that landowners' public responsibilities and private rights are not always at odds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of People & Nature is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The transition to a fossil-free society in Sweden is expected to cause an increased demand for forest-derived products which may intensify existing conflicts between forest ecosystem services. This study investigated the preferences among non-industrial private forest owners for maintaining multiple forest ecosystem services and their preferences for future forest development. The findings were related to their prioritizations for and knowledge of forest management. The study results were generated through the means of a survey which revealed a consistent high valuation among all respondents of ecosystem services relating to water quality, timber quality, recreation, and biodiversity. A majority of the respondents desired increasing proportions of mixed species and broadleaved stands within the future forest landscape. Certified forest owners who were members of a forest owner association (CMs) prioritized achieving high economic income through roundwood production with strong preferences for the ecosystem services high stand growth and high timber quality. For CMs, carbon substitution was the preferred means of mitigating climate change. Forest owners lacking both certification and membership in a forest owner association ranked the ecosystem services recreation and biodiversity significantly higher, and also preferred retaining more old forest within the landscape. The survey results revealed a higher management activity among CMs, resulting in a more frequent establishment of mixed and broadleaved stands. Forest owners with medium to large scale properties were well-represented within the CM category. The results indicated that while the CMs have stronger preferences for roundwood production compared to owners of small properties, they are also more likely to have taken adaptive measures favoring risk management and biodiversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Germany, 24% of the forest area is owned by small-scale private forest owners, whose property is affected by a societal demand for forest-related ecosystem services. In the inhomogeneous group of small-scale private forest owners, different living conditions and lifestyles exist, which are affecting the management of the forest ownership. To support the management activities of small-scale private forest owners, institutional instruments exist, but these are only used by a small proportion of forest owners. In order to gain insights into the accessibility and activation of small-scale private forest owners for management, and to draw conclusions for appropriate support instruments, a large number of studies have analyzed the factors influencing the management activities of forest owners. Some studies identify socio-demographic and socio-economic variables as important influencing factors, but do not take into account their complex interdependencies, which have developed as a result of the pluralization of lifestyles and individualization of forest owners. For this reason, in addition to the influencing factors identified in the literature as relevant for forest management activities of small-scale private forest owners, the lifestyle segmentation approach of Sinus milieus established in German market research was applied in this study. This approach allocates forest owners based on their complex lifestyles into ten different milieu groups. A logistic regression analysis was used to determine the parameters influencing the willingness to engage in eight different forest management activities. The results show that the willingness to engage in forest management activities in the future is higher compared to actions in the past. In addition to timber harvesting-related activities, the small-scale private forest owners show a high action potential for non-commodity-related activities. Non-commodity-related activities can primarily be explained by the Sinus milieu affiliation of the small-scale private forest owners. This result underlines the usefulness of a lifestyle segmentation approach such as the Sinus milieus to address small-scale private forest owners in a target group specific way in line with their willingness to engage in specific forest management activities. Institutional instruments such as the membership in a forest owners association or subsidies do not play a significant role for non-commodity-related activities and seem to be inappropriate for targeting small-scale private forest owners for these activities. Timber harvesting-related activities are primarily influenced by the presence of professional foresters, socio-demographic factors or institutional instruments. Based on these empirical findings, implications can be drawn for the target group-specific addressing of forest owners based on different management activities. In this way, forest owners can be motivated to engage in forest management and the provision of forest-related ecosystem services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aligning scientific and public views on forest management is crucial for increasing the participation of family forest landowners in voluntary forest carbon programs. We compared the results from a systematic literature review of forty research articles in the US South with the perceptions of the stakeholder groups. We quantified perceptions of stakeholder groups regarding the potential of different forest management practices to enhance the carbon stocks in family forestlands by undertaking surveys in a total of two workshops conducted in the South and North Carolinas. We found a clear divergence regarding the carbon potential of the use of genetically advanced species for enhancing carbon. The workshop attendees did not rank this option high, although it is highly prioritized in the scientific literature. Convergence in using improved forest management to increase carbon stocks was observed. Although extended rotation was favored as the second-to-last option for enhancing carbon (before better genetics) by workshop respondents, non-landowners ranked it a higher priority than landowners. All workshop attendees ranked afforestation overall highest, corroborating the systematic review studies in the US South. The workshop attendees suggested conservation-based forest carbon management as a potential option to enhance the carbon stocks in family forestlands; however, we did not find much scientific literature on this option. This study is beneficial to both forest landowners and managers of forest carbon programs as well as to the scientific community at large. It brings all stakeholder groups together to craft new carbon programs for broader participation and carbon stock enhancement in the US South (and beyond).

Biodiversity conservation and economic profit from forests can be combined by various land-sparing and land-sharing approaches. Using a semi-structured survey, we evaluated support for scenarios representing contrasting conservation strategies in a managed boreal forest landscape. Land-sparing approaches were supported by the conservation organisation, regional administrations and the forest company, mainly motivated by the benefit for biodiversity based on ecological theory. Land-sharing approaches were supported by one recreational organisation, some municipalities and the forest owners' association, mainly motivated by the delivery of ecosystem services. Stakeholder groups using certain ecosystem services had motivations that we related to an anthropocentric mindset, while others focused more on species conservation, which can be related both to an anthropocentric or an ecocentric mindsets. Forest conservation planning should consider stakeholders' preferences to handle land-use conflicts. Since reaching consensus among multiple stakeholders seems unfeasible, a combination of land-sparing and land-sharing approaches is probably the best compromise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extreme wildfire is an increasing threat to lives, property, and ecosystems across the United States and many parts of the world. Family forest owners (FFOs) own a large percentage of forestland in the United States, and actions and behaviors on their forestland have a large impact on wildfire prevention and mitigation across the landscape. Using data from the USDA Forest Service's 2018 National Woodland Owner Survey, we investigated national and regional FFO wildfire attitudes and behaviors. We see that concern for wildfire is relatively high across the United States; however, this concern does not always lead to wildfire reduction activities on the landscape. There is some variation among regions, with concern about wildfire and past wildfire reduction activities highest in the western US (76% and 37%, respectively), followed by the South (63% and 11%, respectively), and lowest in the northern region (50% and 8%, respectively). Understanding these aspects of wildfire and FFOs on a national level provides a broader context for the more focused studies across the country and acts as a launch point for more in-depth research in the future. Study Implications : This study assesses family forest owner (FFO) wildfire concern, information needs, and action, both past and intended, at national and regional levels across the United States. As wildfire is predicted to increase in frequency and severity into the future due to climate change, this research provides a reference line and a launch point for future studies. Understanding current concern levels and landowner characteristics can inform programs and policies aimed at mitigating severe wildfires. For example, the disconnect between concerns and actions can be used as an entry point for motivating additional owners to take steps towards active management. Concentrating efforts in fire-prone areas is important, but seeing that wildfire is a concern of family forest owners across much of the country suggests that this can be an important issue for starting conversations with many owners and possibly increasing their engagement with conservation efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Deforestation threatens 120.5 million hectares of forest, and it occurs at a rate of 115 thousand hectares per year. Economic needs and livelihoods encourage people to cut and farm forest areas. Deforestation is considered to be a random and unstructured process that does not involve indigenous people. This research found that indigenous people and various other parties are continuously involved in forest land encroachment. Social networks have facilitated indigenous people and encroachers (buyers of forest land). This research aims to identify the actors involved in forest encroachment and the social network structure in the deforestation process in the production forest of Dharmasraya, Indonesia. METHODS: This study employs an ethnographic case study approach to understanding the drivers of deforestation in the Production Forest Management Unit of Dharmasraya. The Production Forest Management Unit of Dharmasraya covers an area of 33,550 hectares. In customary law, the production forest is owned by four indigenous communities from the Nagari (villages): Bonjol, Abai Siat Nagari Sikabau, and Sungai Dareh. In this research, the data were collected through interviews that asked the respondent to report on those with whom she/he shared particular relations. Primary data were collected using in-depth interviews employing the snowball sampling method. The data collection used interview guides relating to the actors involved in forest sales and the deforestation process. Key informant interviews involving 34 key informants were conducted with traditional leaders, representatives of a lineage unit (Ninik Mamak) and adat functionaries (Datuak customary authorities), Wali Nagari (village chiefs), local institutional leaders, the government, companies, and those holding concessions. The secondary data were collected from relevant agencies in the research area. The data were analyzed using descriptive-qualitative tools. FINDINGS: Three parties are interested in forest production, namely, the local indigenous people, the companies, and the government and each parties claims the production forest because each party sees itself as being the most eligible for forest ownership; this causes an overlap of forest management and ownership among the actors. The indigenous people have become the most powerful party in the ownership of the production forest. The claims of ownership of forests as customary forests have caused the traditional authorities to sell forests massively. The land sale price varies according to the position of the forest and its distance from villages, the topography, and the access. Ulayat (forest) land is considered cheap, ranging between USD 300 and USD 1,300 per hectare, including the Alas hak. The Alas hak is a signed letter showing that the forest land or communal land has been sold to someone else. There are three models of ulayat forest land selling: selling by the customary authorities, selling through a broker, and selling by local people. The research has identified 40 actors involved in production forest management in Dharmasraya. Eight actors were not involved in deforestation or ulayat forest selling. Ten actors were involved in deforestation and ulayat forest selling indirectly, and 22 actors were directly involved in deforestation through forest selling. CONCLUSION: Deforestation occurred because the indigenous people sold forest land massively. The sale of the land claimed as ulayat forest is not restricted; anyone interested in opening a plantation in a forest area can buy the land from the customary authorities. Hence, deforestation has occurred as part of a systematic process involving critical figures in the community. Ulayat forest land sales involved government officers, such as high-ranking police officers and army personnel, and entrepreneurs, officials, civil servants, and other parties who supposedly understand forestry law. The study also confirmed that the economic factors driving deforestation are facilitated by the social networks between indigenous people and the people holding power. The findings of this study contradict the general fact that indigenous people can manage forests sustainably. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, sustainable forest management has proved to be a crucial issue for forestry companies becoming more and more sensitive to environmental problems. This resulted in the inherent expansion in forest certifications formally promoting long-term environmental sustainability and a wider spectrum of forest ecosystems. In this context this study aims to assess the main motivations that encourage the adoption of sustainable forest management certification for PEFC and FSC standards and how these motivations vary depending on the characteristics of the companies. Specifically, online questionnaire surveys were submitted to a sample of Italian and German forest owners and managers considering five main motivational factors offered by the economic literature: three external mechanisms represented by the market, signalling and legal mechanism and two internal mechanisms consisting of the moral and learning mechanism. Results highlighted that the main drivers are represented for both countries by the reporting mechanism, in particular certification is seen as a tool to demonstrate externally the implementation of sustainable forest management practices. Other mechanisms that guide the intentions of forest owners and managers include the legal mechanism, in particular in the Italian case, especially for publicly owned forest areas, more driven by the interest of complying with forestry regulations and the moral mechanism, in the case of Germany. The implications of this research are seen in development of forest certification, through understanding forest owners' reasons for adopting it and providing background information to improve the design of certification programs to attract greater adoption by forest companies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tree age is one of the key characteristics of a forest, along with tree species and height. It affects management decisions of forest owners and allows researchers to analyze environmental characteristics in support of sustainable development. Although forest age is of primary significance, it can be unknown for remote areas and large territories. Currently, remote sensing (RS) data supports rapid information gathering for wide territories. To automate RS data processing and estimate forest characteristics, machine learning (ML) approaches are applied. Although there are different data sources that can be used as features in ML models, there is no unified strategy on how to prepare a dataset and define a training task to estimate forest age. Therefore, in this work, we aim to conduct a comprehensive study on forest age estimation using remote sensing observations of the Sentinel-2 satellite and two ML-based approaches for forestry inventory data, namely stand-based and pixel-based. We chose the CatBoost algorithm to assess these two approaches. To establish the robustness of the pipeline, an in-depth analysis is conducted, embracing diverse scenarios incorporating dominant species information, tree height, Digital Elevation Model (DEM), and vegetation indices. We performed experiments on forests in the northern Arkhangelsk region and obtained the best Mean Absolute Error (MAE) result of 7 years in the case of the stand-based approach and 6 years in the case of the pixel-based approach. These results are achieved for all available input data such as spectral satellites bands, vegetation indices, and auxiliary forest characteristics (dominant species and height). However, when only spectral bands are used, the MAE metric is the same both for per-pixel and per-stand approaches and equals 11 years. It was also shown that, despite high correlation between forest age and height, only height can not be used for accurate age estimation: the MAE increases to 18 and 26 years for per-pixel and per-stand approaches, respectively. The conducted study might be useful for further investigation of forest ecosystems through remote sensing observations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Private forest ownership, with small and fragmented forest properties prevailing in Europe, is affected by demographic, economic and social changes as well as by forest-related policy goals. This is reflected in the lack of knowledge about forest management, insufficient forest management and underutilization of forest resources. Considering that, business cooperation between private forest owners and with forest service providers or managers is recognized as one of the key instruments to increase the efficiency of private forest management. The aim of this study is to investigate whether there is a potential for further development of forest lease as form of long-term business cooperation. In this research, interviews (n=8) were conducted with tenants who have signed long-term forest lease contracts with private forest owners in Slovenia. The results show that there are limited possibilities for further development of long-term business cooperation between private forest owners and forest service providers/managers (e.g. forest lease). The results indicate that there are many benefits of long-term business cooperation for both sides, but private forest owners' interest is questionable. If we want long-term business cooperation (forest lease) to succeed, forest lease should be recognized in legislation, education about business cooperation (forest lease) should be given to public forest service employees, so they could promote forest lease and provide information to private forest owners. In addition, a connection between potential business partners should be established and examples of good practice should be promoted to gain trust between business partners, which could increase private forest owners' interest and consequently improve private forest management and utilization of forest resources from private forests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the efficiency of loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) production under roundwood and carbon price risks. The data are generated from the biophysical–economic optimization model, consisting of the loblolly pine growth and yield model in Georgia, United States, combined with a stochastic economic model. The model incorporates the timber and carbon price risk parameters and generates the optimal biomass volumes and the associated harvest profits for 56 scenarios given different silvicultural treatments and price risks. Timber production efficiencies under each scenario are evaluated using the data envelopment analysis. This study also assesses potential economic losses due to inefficient forest production. The result shows that forest landowners with lower risk tolerance have a higher profit foregone. Inefficient forest management could cause up to $319/ha and $405/ha of potential economic losses under herbicide and fertilizer treatment scenarios, respectively. As timber-related price risks can influence forest landowners' decisions, the findings of this study incorporating different risks would help forestry professionals and policymakers to establish a more realistic and greater degree of accuracy in the forest productivity evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and objectives: Successful policy implementation relies on understanding stakeholders' willingness to contribute to policy goals. The EU Green Deal, with strategies on forests, biodiversity, and the bioeconomy, also depends on the performance of the forestry sector, including a significant portion of privately owned forests. Materials and methods: We conducted a nationwide survey among a sample of 341 private forest owners in Slovenia (total population of 424,086). The online questionnaire had three sections: (1) knowledge and priorities regarding ecosystem services and the bioeconomy, (2) a discrete choice experiment for eliciting preferences concerning the implementation of activities supporting strategic goals originating from EU Green Deal policies, and (3) socio-economic data and future forest management objectives. Results: The results indicated heterogeneity in preferences for performing activities on private forest lands to enhance specific forest ES that contribute to policy goals. More than half of the respondents (57.6%) exhibited a reluctance to implement activities and were skeptical of higher compensation payments, whereas the rest expressed an inclination towards changing their forest management. Conclusions: Slovenia's private forest owners appear to be heterogeneous in their willingness to participate in a hypothetical ES enhancement scheme that could contribute to some EU Green Deal goals. Policymakers must recognize intrinsic motives and social norms that affect the willingness of forest owners to be engaged to increase the acceptance of solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For political and administrative governance of land-use decisions, high-resolution and reliable spatial models are required over large areas and for various time horizons. We present a process-centered simulation model 'NextStand' (a forest landscape model, FLM) and its R-script, which predicts regional forest characteristics at a forest stand resolution. The model uses whole area stand data and is optimized for realistic iterative timber harvesting decisions, based on stand compositions (developing over time) and locations. We used the model for simulating spatial predictions of the Estonian forests in North Europe (2.3 Mha, about 2 M stands); the decisions were parameterized by land ownership, protection regimes, and rules of clear-cut harvesting. We illustrate the model application as a potential broad-scale Decision Support Tool by predicting how the forest age composition, placement of clear-cut areas, and connectivity of old stands will develop until the year 2050 under future scenarios. The country-scale outputs had a generally low within-scenario variance, which enabled to estimate some main land-use effects and uncertainties at small computing efforts. In forestry terms, we show that a continuation of recent intensive forest management trends will produce a decline of the national timber supplies in Estonia, which greatly varies among ownership types. In a conservation perspective, the current level of 13% forest area strictly protected can maintain an overall area of old forests by 2050, but their isolation is a problem for biodiversity conservation. The behavior of low-intensity forest management units (owners) and strict governance of clear-cut harvesting rules emerged as key questions for regional forest sustainability. Our study confirms that high-resolution modeling of future spatial composition of forest land is feasible when one can (i) delineate predictable spatial units of transformation (including management) and (ii) capture their variability of temporal change with simple ecological and socioeconomic (including human decision-making) variables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The bundle of forest landowners' rights largely varies from one jurisdiction to another. On a global scale, the diversity of forest management regime and property rights systems is such that finding comprehensive and standardised approaches for governance analysis purposes is a challenging task. This paper explores the use of the Property Rights Index for Forestry (PRIF) as an analytical tool based on five rights domains (access, withdrawal, management, exclusion, and alienation) to assess how regulatory frameworks impact the owners' forest property rights. We show that PRIF is a reliable index for various governance arrangements, considering its ability to score forest owners' freedom to decide in case studies that range from the Amazon area (Brazil), Misiones province (Argentina) and Quebec (Canada) to community-managed Nepalese and Mexican forests. PRIF scores obtained in these diverse governance arrangements confirm that the governance of forests held by entities other than the state is driven by two factors: the owner's ability to exclude the public from the use of his/her own resource and the owner's freedom to decide on the forest management goals. These factors explained 66.44% of the variance in our sample and should be considered as the main potential drivers while implementing any new international or national policy. Despite having a few limitations, the PRIF is a promising governance indicator and has been proven to perform well for various socioeconomic and legal contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The beliefs of forest owners with regard to cooperative forest management on capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus) lekking sites were explored in a qualitative interview study targeted at owners (n = 12) with lekking sites on their properties. The Theory of Planned Behavior was used as a framework, through which the beliefs of the forest owners were elicited for further study, while discussing the readiness of forest owners to participate in cooperative lekking site management. Results indicated that forest owners' attitudes toward cooperative management of lekking sites are related to their beliefs on how cooperation influences their forestry-related decision-making, forest use, and capercaillie well-being. The forest management decisions by forest owners were influenced by family and by forest professionals, whereas neighbors were not considered as important referents in their decision-making process. Age of the forest owners and compensation claims for cooperation require further study as factors that controlled the readiness to cooperate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The demand for wood in Europe is expected to increase in the coming decades. However, any theoretical maximum supply will be affected by sustainability constraints, the motivations of forest owners and regional factors, such as incentives, species and assortments. However, the influence of these factors on supply is changeable. In this study, we quantify what might be realistically available as additional wood supply from currently existing European forests, based on a combination of results of the forest resource model EFISCEN-Space and a literature review of national supply projections. Wood mobilization scenarios for 10 representative Model Regions in Europe that assume forest owners and managers in the simulated regions will adapt their behaviour to alternative behaviour as recorded from other regions were projected with the EFISCEN-Space model. The realistic additional potential based on the literature review is 90 million m3 yr−1. This potential should be attainable within 10–20 years. However, the simulations in the Model Regions found potentials to be lower in 7 out of 10 cases as compared with the country they are located in. On average, the model regions reached less than half of the potential as compared with the literature review. This suggests that the realistic additional potential at the European scale may well be lower if all mobilization barriers are taken into account in more detail, but also highlights the uncertainty surrounding these estimates. We conclude from the analyses that although there are large differences in potential between regions and the analysis method employed, there are no 'hotspots' where a large pool of accessible wood can be quickly mobilized using existing infrastructure for nearby industries. An increase in harvest would therefore only be possible with a large effort that spans the whole chain, from forest owners' behaviour to capacity building, financial incentives and matching resources to harvesting capacity. The additionally available wood can most likely only be mobilized against higher marginal costs and will thus only become available in times of higher stumpage prices. The largest potential lies in privately owned forests which often have a fragmented ownership but will most likely be able to supply more wood, though mostly from deciduous species. In the long term (more than 20 years), additional wood, compared with the amounts we found for short term, can only be made available through investments in afforestation, forest restoration, improved forest management and more efficient use of raw material and recycled material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated how thinning intensity and rotation length affect radiative forcing, and thus climate warming or cooling, through changes in albedo and carbon stocks in Norway spruce (Picea abies Kart. (L.)) stands. Forest ecosystem model simulations were conducted under the current climate on sub-mesic sites in central Finland (62oN). Even-aged management regime with a business-as-usual (baseline) thinning from below over an 80-year rotation length was used as the reference management regime with which others were compared. Other even-aged management regimes included baseline thinning with ±20 per cent changes in basal area thinning thresholds over rotation lengths of 80, 100 and 120 years. Additionally, we used as a comparison an uneven-aged management regime, with selective cuttings (from above) at ca. 15-year intervals, and no management regime, over the simulation periods of 80–120 years. Under even-aged management, a simultaneous decrease in thinning intensity and extension of rotation length from 80 to 120 years reduced total radiative forcing compared to the reference management regime. Thus, it had an overall net cooling effect. Under even-aged management with baseline thinning and/or higher thinning intensity with rotation lengths of 80–100 years, and under uneven-aged management, there was little net climatic effect. This was because the opposing effects of changes in albedo and ecosystem carbon stocks largely cancelled each other out. No management regime resulted in the highest net cooling effect but provided no harvest income for timber. Thus, proper incentives for forest owners would likely be required to promote such potential cooling effects in forest management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Small-scale private forests cover large areas in Europe and often contain structures and habitats of high nature conservation value that are increasingly put under pressure due to a rising interest in fuelwood and wood products. We investigate the distribution of variables like living tree and deadwood volumes, management intensity, diversity and density of tree-related microhabitats recorded in 81 small-scale private forest parcels in the Lower Saxon Hills (northwest Germany). We provide an assessment of the influence of predictors like the individual forest owners' goals and activities, as stated by them in a quantitative survey, as well as landscape parameters like parcel size, slope, landscape fragmentation and forest continuity. Our results indicate that there are two types of structures of conservation value in small-scale private forests: slowly evolving structures (type A) like large-diameter living trees and tree-related microhabitats which mostly depend on landscape parameters that act on longer time scales, and fast evolving structures (type B) like deadwood that are influenced by both owner attitudes and landscape parameters. The resulting implications for integrative forest and conservation management are discussed. When considering the conservation of the slowly evolving type A structures, long-term commitments to conservation legislation, financial incentives and generation-spanning education of forest owners are necessary. Efforts to promote the faster evolving type B structures might prove particularly advantageous in small-scale private forests given the structural diversity of the stands, but also the often strong identification of owners with their land. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article investigates how the Swedish forest industry, as represented by the three largest Swedish private forest companies (Svenska Cellulosa AB, Stora Enso, and Holmen), through their main public relations (PR) channels frame the current dominant Swedish forestry model and alternative models that are promoted by the European Union (EU). The content analysis of the three companies' trade magazines published between 2019 and 2022 explores the patterns in the PR framing of the forest management models with respect to economic, environmental, and social aspects. The time interval is centered by the July 2021 announcement of the EU's new Forest Strategy for 2030. The magazines' target audience is private forest owners, from whom Svenska Cellulosa AB, Stora Enso, and Holmen buy 40-50% of the timber used in production. The main finding of the study is that these corporations did not present alternative methods as viable options to replace the Swedish forestry model. The magazines, with some individual variations, respond to the alternative methods promoted by the EU and environmental associations by an increased emphasis on the benefits, mainly environmental, of the Swedish forestry model - framing the model as not only the most profitable but also the most ecologically sustainable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forested land is increasingly owned in small parcels by family forest owners who are becoming less likely to conduct the management which supports ecosystems, economies, and communities. One way to encourage private land management is through group cooperatives. Characteristics of collective action that support group cooperative participation are well understood but how they relate to management implementation is not. Examining Wisconsin's Deer Management Assistance Program as a case, we sought to understand how characteristics associated with collective action relate to cooperative cross-boundary management implementation. Through a member survey, we found elements of trust, social capital, information sharing, and goal alignment to be associated with management action implementation. Significant characteristics and their relationship to implementation varied across land, habitat, and forest management actions. Our results emphasize the need to customize professional assistance to complement the group cooperative's landowner demographics and management goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The maple syrup industry has growth potential in the United States. Foresters can help expand the maple syrup industry by supporting private forest management decisions to improve maple tree health and sap production. This study examined the influence of advice solicitation, active listening, and forester traits (i.e. expertise, confidence, trustworthiness, shared forestland values) on outcomes of professional advice about maple syrup production and sugarbush management. Regression models were used to analyze data from a survey targeted at Wisconsin maple syrup producers (n  = 149). Compared with unsolicited advice, advice outcomes were more positive when landowners actively sought it, although advice solicitation had a stronger influence on perceived quality of advice than advice utilization. Landowners evaluated advice more positively and had greater intention to use the advice when the forester actively listened to them. Perceiving positive traits in the forester has the strongest impact on landowners' evaluations and adoption of advice. Study Implications: By examining the role of forester traits, giving (un)solicited advice, and active listening in affecting private forest landowners' perceptions and use of advice about maple syrup production and sugarbush management, this study informs the design of training programs aimed at equipping foresters with effective communication skills. To achieve optimal communication outcomes, foresters should tactfully create the perception that the landowner requested their advice, such as by eliciting questions and encouraging landowners to explain their management motivations. Further, foresters should demonstrate expertise, show confidence, build trust, and create compatible management philosophies with the landowner by acknowledging the landowner's perspectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is limited research about the interacting impacts of hurricane damage and forest disturbances like invasive species and wildfires on nonindustrial forest land management. We administered a mail survey to 1,000 randomly selected nonindustrial private forest landowners in the Panhandle of Florida who owned forestlands in the counties most severely affected by Hurricane Michael. Results show that most landowners did little to no forest management to prepare for the hurricane. Following Hurricane Michael, 34% of respondents reported increased invasive plants whereas 82% experienced timber loss, 62% had damaged wildlife habitats, and 53% had increased vulnerability to wildfire hazards. Landowners who experienced timber damage from Hurricane Michael were more likely to reduce fire hazard, eliminate or reduce invasive plants, perform road and trail maintenance, improve wildlife habitat, reforest both salvage harvested and areas that were not salvage harvested, search for information on the internet about forest management, and pass their forestland to family. Study Implications: Forest disturbances such as hurricanes, invasive species, and wildfires are predicted to increase in severity and frequency, consequently affecting forest productivity, sustainability, and management. Despite significant impacts on forest lands, there is limited understanding of how these disturbances may affect nonindustrial private forest landowner management behaviors. This article highlights the attitudes, experiences, and perceptions of nonindustrial private forest landowners, including their awareness and overall forest management plans regarding invasive species control, wildlife habitat improvement, and reducing wildfire hazards after a hurricane. We assessed the important factors that contribute to landowners' willingness to take action to address these interacting forest disturbances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Payments for ecosystem services (PES) programs are a common policy tool to conserve forests. Effective PES programs attain conservation and social equity outcomes by actively engaging diverse landowners in long‐term land stewardship and meeting landowners' needs. In 2017–2018, we conducted 32 in‐depth interviews with landowners, technicians, and government officials to attain insights into how the PES program in Salta province, Argentina, has performed in terms of (1) motivating landowners to enroll in PES, and (2) ensuring their satisfaction with the design and performance of the program, a necessary precondition to ensure long‐term forest stewardship. Interviewees suggested that landowners enroll in PES because they are restricted from engaging in more profitable land uses, they are not reliant on income from their land, they need PES payments to cover their land management costs, they are unable or unwilling to sell their land because their property values have been adversely impacted by land‐use restrictions, they want to sustainably manage forested land, and/or they want to protect their property rights. Interviewees stated that land title requirements, conflicts over user rights, and high transaction costs hinder PES enrollment and exacerbate social conflicts between landowners and indigenous communities. Finally, interviewees questioned the conservation effectiveness of the PES program, owing to the program design and inadequate funding. Our findings suggest that engaging technicians, landowners, and indigenous communities in discussions on how the structure of the PES program could be improved might allow for shared learning, improved institutional trust, and the design of more flexible contracts that would facilitate sustained conservation and improved social equity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forestry in South Carolina has an annual economic impact of $23 billion and provides over 100,000 jobs statewide. Approximately 87% of forest lands in South Carolina is privately owned and faces shifts in ownership and management practices that may impact forest health. We conducted a bus tour that demonstrated the entire life cycle of a loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) forest from final harvest through forest maturity. The bus tour was aimed at increasing landowner knowledge and influencing the likelihood that they will implement forest management practices. An evaluation using multiple methods was conducted to determine whether the bus tour achieved its objectives. Qualitative and quantitative data converged to show that the forest management bus tour appeared to have been effective in increasing forest landowner knowledge and intent to implement forest management practices, thus potentially increasing forest health across the state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Family forests comprise a significant portion of total forest land area in the southern United States and their owners frequently have multiple, competing objectives. This research evaluated the effectiveness of functional zoning based on site index on forest sizes relevant to family forest owners. A total of fifty family forests were randomly selected from twenty-five counties in the East Texas Pineywoods region. Timber production and northern bobwhite habitat (Colinus virginianus) habitat were used as proxies for competing objectives. It was found that 80% of family forest parcels had sufficient site index heterogeneity to benefit from functional zoning. For forest parcels that could benefit from functional zoning, the benefit in terms of increased land expectation value (LEV) was not found to be dependent on parcel size. On average, this approach increased the LEV $32/ac at a 3% discount rate, $16/ac at 5%, and $9/ac at 7%. This zoning approach supports multiple objectives while minimizing the economic impact of the nonrevenue objectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Modern forest management requires a well-founded knowledge and understanding of all the risks involved in forest management. It requires a wealth of information not only on natural hazards, but also related to the financial aspect of running a business. The most important activity in the risk management phase is to identify all the known risk areas, and on this basis, to determine the appropriate classification of risks accompanying the activities of the entity in question, taking into account the various categories of risk division. In forest management, the global risk of activities should be considered in terms of two main risks: operational risk (including natural and anthropogenic factors), and financial risk, which, in simple terms, is the consequence of decisions and economic processes in an entity's area of activity. Considering the impact of the production factors that affect the results of the activities carried out, it should be emphasized that forest management has a specific distribution of standard production factors. The forest stand plays the role of both a production resource and an object of production, and in the final analysis, represents a production effect. Any consideration of financial risk management in forest management should be carried out based on long-term analytical data series. Another factor for forests under state management is the various functions that forest management performs. Taking into account the ownership criterion cited earlier, it needs to be emphasized that the weighting of individual financial risks may vary depending on the ownership structure of forests in a given country and taking into account the ownership share of forests in the timber sales market. In conclusion, it was pointed out that, unlike other industries, financial risk management in forest holdings can be disrupted by the function of forests, as well as the strong influence in the long term of natural phenomena that have a significant impact on determining the types and ordering the degree of significance of individual risks in the process of identifying them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper uses a questionnaire and interviews from households in ethnic minority areas of the Jianchuan County (Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture) and Pingbian County (Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture) in Yunnan Province to explore the willingness of foresters to manage forests. Using the Sustainable Livelihoods Analysis framework, we select three indicators including the variables of individual social economic attributes, the cognition and experience of forest landowners, and policy guidance. We use a binary logistic regression model to analyze the factors affecting the willingness of foresters to participate in forest management. Through the above analysis, we found the following: (1) Forest landowners' willingness to engage in forest management in ethnic minority regions is relatively high, at 71.98%. (2) Variables of individual social economic attributes have the most significant degree of influence on the willingness to engage in forest management. (3) Standard of living and the woodland area have a significant positive effect on forest land management intentions, while education level, whether they are compensated by public welfare forests, and whether they have participated in the project of returning farmland to forest and grassland have a significant negative effect on management intentions. (4) There are significant differences between forest landowners' willingness to engage in forest management and the influencing factors between minority regions and non-minority regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ownership of 99.9% of forests in Turkey belongs to the State. According to the mandatory provisions of the Turkish Constitution of 1982, the ownership of State forests cannot be transferred to third parties. However, forest legislation permits several activities within the State forests, other than forestry, under certain conditions. Thus, in this study, the legal process of mining permits granted in State forests in Turkey was analyzed, and the policies implemented in mining permits were tried to be evaluated. Then, how mining activities affect forestlands and the environment has been compared by taking international studies in the literature into account. The change in the amount of carbon stored in the forests where the land use changed as a result of the given mining permit was calculated using the biomass expansion factor (BEF) method. After the mining permit was granted, 53% of the land-use change occurred in the sample area, and there was a 43% decrease in the amount of carbon stored. According to the results of the analysis, before the mining permit was granted, the amount of carbon stored by the area in 2009 was calculated as 4400.23 tons. However, with the start of mining activities in 2011, nearly half of the trees in the area were cut down, which was caused this value to drop to 1911.12 tons. As a result of the mining activities that continued after this date, it was determined by 2021 that all the trees in the area were cut down, and the amount of carbon stored in the area decreased to zero. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Family forest landowners own and manage much of the world's forests, but we know little about their willingness to control biological invasions on their properties. Using a choice experiment, we find that landowners prefer mechanical methods and strongly oppose chemical methods when controlling the spread of an invasive shrub. Their choices are heterogeneously affected by ecosystem service outcomes resulting from control, namely timber production, trail recreation, and wildlife viewing. Landowners view their decision to control the invasive species on their land as a complement to the control by neighbors, offering further support for the areawide management of forest invasive species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Parcelisation-induced fragmentation is a common development trend in forest ownership in many Western countries. In Finland, the idea of a jointly-owned forest (JOF) has been introduced to facilitate the effective management of forest resource in parcelised and fragmented forest owning contexts. A JOF is an area of combined holdings intended for the practice of sustainable forestry for the benefit of the shareholders. The establishment of JOFs alters the core idea of ownership as it diminishes individual forest owners' ability to control their holdings. We suggest that the feelings of ownership are important, yet under researched, aspects in the development and operation of JOFs. In this study, we focus on these ownership feelings by asking what kind of owner types are associated with JOFs. We build a qualitative typology of four owner types which we named active owners, investors, legacy fosterers, and detached owners. Our study contributes to the discussion on JOFs by showing that shared ownership can incorporate a variety of owner types with different ownership feelings. We claim that the need to understand these different owner types is important to facilitate the development of tools and policy instruments that will contribute to the establishment and management of jointly-owned forests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Emerging and invasive tree pests and pathogens in Europe are increasing in number and range, having impacts on biodiversity, forest services, ecosystems and human well-being. Stakeholders involved in tree and forest management contribute to the detection and management of new and emerging tree pests and pathogens (PnPs). We surveyed different groups of stakeholders in European countries. The stakeholders were mainly researchers, tree health surveyors and forest managers, as well as forest owners, nurseries, policy-makers, advisors, forestry authorities, NGOs and civil society. We investigated which tools they used to detect and manage PnPs, surveyed their current PnP awareness and knowledge and collated the new and emerging PnP species of concern to them. The 237 respondents were based in 15 European countries, with the majority from the United Kingdom, France and the Czech Republic. There was a strong participation of respondents with a work focus on research and surveying, whereas timber traders and plant importers were less represented. Respondents were surveyed on 18 new, emerging PnPs in Europe and listed an additional 37 pest species and 21 pathogen species as potential future threats. We found that species on EPPO's list of 'priority pests' were better known than those not listed. Stakeholders working in urban environments were more aware of PnPs compared to those working in rural areas. Stakeholders' awareness of PnPs was not related to the number of new, emerging PnP species present in a country. Stakeholders want access to more detection and management tools, including long-term citizen-science monitoring, maps showing spread and range of new PnPs, pest identification smartphone apps, handheld detection devices, drone monitoring and eDNA metabarcoding. To help facilitate better forest health across Europe, they called for mixed forest development, reduced nursery stock movement, biosecurity and data sharing amongst organisations. These results indicate that stakeholder knowledge of a few key PnP may be good, but given that the large diversity of threats is so large and future risks unknown, we conclude that multiple and varied methods for generic detection, mitigation and management methods, many in development, are needed in the hands of stakeholders surveying and managing trees and woodlands in Europe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Standing deadwood is an important structural component of forest ecosystems. Its occurrence and dynamics influence both carbon fluxes and the availability of habitats for many species. However, deadwood is greatly reduced in managed, and even in many currently unmanaged temperate forests in Europe. To date, few studies have examined how environmental factors, forest management and changing climate affect the availability of standing deadwood and its dynamics.Data from five periods of the Austrian National Forest Inventory (1981–2009) were used to (I) analyse standing deadwood volume in relation to living volume stock, elevation, eco‐region, forest type, ownership and management intensity, (II) investigate the influence of forest ownership and management intensity on snag persistence and (III) define drivers of standing deadwood volume loss for seven tree genera (Abies, Alnus, Fagus, Larix, Picea, Pinus and Quercus) using tree‐related, site‐related and climate‐related variables, and predict volume loss under two climate change scenarios.Standing deadwood volume was mainly determined by living volume stock and elevation, resulting in different distributions between eco‐regions. While forest type and management intensity influenced standing deadwood volume only slightly, the latter exhibited a significant effect on persistence. Snag persistence was shorter in intensively managed forests than in extensively managed forests and shorter in private than in public forests.Standing deadwood volume loss was driven by a combination of diameter at breast height, elevation, as well as temperature, precipitation and relative humidity. Volume loss under climate change predictions revealed constant rates for moderate climate change (RCP2.6) by the end of the 21st century. Under severe climate change conditions (RCP8.5), volume loss increased for most tree genera, with Quercus, Alnus and Picea showing different predictions depending on the model used as the baseline scenario. We observed trends towards faster volume loss at higher temperatures and lower elevations and slower volume loss at high precipitation levels. The tree genera most susceptible to climate change were Pinus and Fagus, while Abies was least susceptible.Synthesis and applications. We recommend to protect standing dead trees from regular harvesting to ensure the full decomposition process. The consequences for decomposition‐dependent species must be taken into account to evaluate the influences of management and climate change on standing deadwood dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Economic analyses of forest management options can help landowners make informed decisions. However, landowners make decisions in complex and nuanced ways that transcend economics. The history and legal status of their land, their emotional connections to it, their access to knowledge and capital, and their broader objectives are vital elements in their decision-making processes. We present case studies of four Black landowners in Georgia through a combination of economic analyses that compare their current revenue with potential increased revenue through active forest management and qualitative interviews that provide context for past management decisions and insights into why active forest management may – or may – not prove to be their ultimate goal. Together these two types of analysis present a range of goals and management options that consider both economic and non-economic valuations of forested lands, which can inform extension and outreach strategies for increasing engagement of Black landowners in sustainable forestry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Gozdarski Vestnik is the property of Federation of Forestry Associations of Slovenia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The forestry sector in Italy and throughout Europe is going through a critical period due to ongoing natural and anthropological processes, such as climate change and the abandonment of rural areas. These processes lead to a constant fragmentation of properties in small forest parcels, with direct impacts on management capacity. In this framework, new sustainable forest management methods are being tested and are shown to be good practices to oppose the decline of forest ecosystems. Their innovative aspects concern the introduction of a form of shared and circular economy, where management is built on the process, rather than on the product. Their technical activities are based on precision forestry systems and digitalization. The new approach takes into consideration the fact that the woods are an asset available to the whole community, in terms of benefits and protection. Forest Sharing® is an example of the application of shared forest management systems, due to which the owner user benefits from several services and opportunities, such as the advanced monitoring platform and the access to investment funds. After eighteen months of activity, the first results of the application of the new management systems can already be seen. Many aspects need further development, such as case studies concerning the enhancement due to forest certification and new recreational activities. Shared forest management systems have the potential to increase the level of knowledge and awareness of citizens about environmental and territorial issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Lithuania, as in other analyzed countries, greatest attention is concentrated on the protection and monitoring of state forests, while the situation in the private forest sector is quite unclear and uncertain. In most European countries, as well as in Lithuania, there are a lack of socio-economic data, and there are no planned forest monitoring methods and permanent programs. We claim that the problem of achieving sustainability in the forest sector, in the case of the estates of the private forest owners, could be partially solved by implementing the monitoring of social and economic indicators. This study proposes the need for the establishment of a social and economic database of private forest owners in Lithuania. In this article, we have carried out a detailed analysis of scientific sources and selected socio-economic indicators to help the adoption of optimal management solutions for sustainability in the private forest sector. To explore the need to establish a social and economic database of private forest owners in Lithuania, we conducted an empirical study by applying the method of semi-structured interview to a group of experts/specialists in the forestry field. Summarizing the results of the research, it can be concluded that the need for socio-economic information about the owners of private forests in Lithuania is obvious, as it would clarify the most pressing problems that forest owners face when farming in their forest estates. This information would also allow the improvement of policy formulation and implementation, the adoption of legal regulations, and the organization of the necessary changes in private forestry. Therefore, it is necessary to establish criteria and indicators that could ensure more sustainable forest management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The demand for the multipurpose use of forestry accentuates the development of non-timber forest products and services and the search for other sources of financial benefits for forest owners and users. One of the essential market items of non-timber forest production is game production, a very high-quality local food source. Currently, in the Czech Republic, as well as in neighbouring countries, the amount of game being offered is increasing, while the purchase prices of game have stagnated at very low levels for a long time, despite the fact that consumer prices of meat have generally increased. A prerequisite for the development of the market for game products and the effective use of marketing tools is the analysis of important factors influencing the consumer demand for game. Therefore, the possible limiting factors on the customer side, the removal of which can change the demand for game meat and increase the consumption of game production, were investigated. Igor Ansoff's approach is used to analyse growth opportunities in the game market from the point of view of marketing strategies. The preconditions for using Porter's STP process to design a pull strategy on the consumer market are verified. Based on the Parfitt–Collins model, the research mainly focuses on a sample of active consumers who are a subgroup of a representative panel of 1000 respondents. The demographic characteristics and buying behaviour of the subgroup of 523 active consumers who regularly consume game meat were analysed. Significant factors and potential segmentation criteria were identified. On the basis of these research results, the article discusses, in detail, the marketing aspects related to the development of the game market, and marketing procedures are also proposed that can significantly support consumer demand in the game market using a mix of marketing tools. The increased demand for game meat will help to reduce the overpopulation of cloven-hoofed game in the forests of the Czech Republic, which will positively impact the reduction of animal damage to the forest environment, especially in areas newly forested after the bark beetle calamity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Women represent a growing segment of the family forest owner population in the United States. This article seeks to identify how women in the eastern U.S. navigate forest land management. Inductive coding led to the development of five prominent themes: connections to the land, stewardship ethic, personal challenges, connections to others, and educational/programmatic challenges. Our research suggests that women have a strong connection to their land with diverse interests and objectives. Their stories challenge the current definition of engaged landowners and represent a need for programs and policies that support passive and more holistic active stewardship options. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The forest-based sector plays a significant role in supporting Europe on its pathway towards a more integrated and bio-based circular economy. Beyond the supply of timber, forest ecosystems offer a wide range of products and services beneficial to human wellbeing. Non-wood forest products (NWFPs) play an integral role in provisioning forest ecosystem services and constitute a huge portfolio of species from various taxonomic kingdoms. As diverse as the resources themselves is the list of end-products that may be derived from raw non-wood materials. Multiple value-chains of NWFPs provide benefits to actors across all stages of the supply chain. Forest management has not yet directed full attention towards NWFPs, since timber production remains the main management objective, although multi-purpose management is recognised as a key principle of the sector's sustainability paradigm. Lack of knowledge of the socio-economic relevance of NWFPs for European societies and diverse property rights frameworks increase the complexity in forest-based decision making additionally. In this study, the future potential of 38 NWFPs for diversifying the forest bioeconomy is investigated by means of multi-criteria analysis, including stakeholder interaction and expert involvement. The results for six case studies in different biogeographical zones in Europe indicate the latent opportunities NWFPs provide to forest owners who are willing to focus their management on the joint production of wood and non-wood resources as well as their value networks. This study intends to unravel perspectives for forest owners in particular, as they often represent principal decision makers in forest ecosystem management, act as main suppliers of NWFP raw materials, and thus can be understood as key stakeholders in a forest bioeconomy. Even though regional perspectives differ, due to varying socio-economic and ecological environments, there is huge potential to strengthen the economic viability of rural areas. Furthermore, sustainable co-production may foster the ecological integrity of forest ecosystems across Europe. Results show that wild mushrooms constitute the most widespread opportunity to increase additional income from forest management, but the most promising NWFPs can be found in the tree product, understorey plant and animal origin categories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]