Changing objectives of non-industrial private forest ownership: a confirmatory approach to measurement model testing

Abstract

While the behavior and objectives of non-industrial private forest (NIPF) owners have been studied extensively, studies that systematically test the underlying measurement model are lacking in forest economic literature. Our paper reports the results obtained from a recent large-scale survey conducted in Finland in 2011 (n = 557). Results indicate a novel way to systematically analyze the objectives of forest ownership by testing the validity of the developed measurement scale using the structural equations modeling technique. From an exploratory factor analysis of 22 items measuring forest owner objectives, a four-dimensional structure is identified in the background objectives of NIPF owners. These dimensions are labeled as recreation and leisure time, sense of economic security, nature conservation and aesthetics, and timber sales income objective. Having undergone a confirmatory testing process, results from the four-dimensional model support the validity of the developed 16-item measurement model. Based on these findings, we argue that the logical NIPF owner objective structure in Finland consists of experiential forest value, as perceived in current and future time contexts, as well as of current and future economic objectives. As the theoretical structure divides forest owner objectives into the evaluation of the present objectives, supplemented with a psychological evaluation of the future objectives, a novel classification of NIPF owner objectives is suggested.Résumé : Bien que le comportement et les objectifs des propriétaires de forêts privées non industrielles (FPNI) aient été examinés en profondeur, la littérature en économie forestière compte peu d'études où le modèle de mesure utilisé a été systématiquement testé. Notre article rapporte les résultats d'un vaste sondage (n = 557) mené en Finlande en 2011. Ces résultats découlent d'une nouvelle façon de considérer de façon méthodique les objectifs de la propriété forestière en testant la validité de l'échelle de mesure qui a été développée à l'aide de la modélisation par équations structurelles. Les objectifs des propriétaires de FPNI ont été structurés autour de quatre thèmes principaux à partir d'une analyse factorielle exploratoire comptant 22 éléments et qui mesurait les objectifs de ces propriétaires forestiers. Ces thèmes sont : les loisirs et les activités récréatives, le sentiment de sécurité économique, l'esthétique et la conservation de la nature ainsi que les revenus tirés de la vente du bois. Ayant subi un test de confirmation, les résultats structurés selon ces quatre thèmes supportent la validité du modèle de mesure à 16 éléments qui a été développé. S'appuyant sur ces résultats, nous soutenons que la logique qui sous-tend les objectifs des propriétaires de FPNI en Finlande découle de valeurs forestières expérientielles différentiées dans le temps, comme c'est le cas pour les valeurs économiques où les valeurs courantes diffèrent des valeurs futures. Comme le modèle théorique distingue les objectifs des propriétaires forestiers selon le...

Factors Influencing the Choice of Management Strategy among Small-Scale Private Forest Owners in Sweden

“…In addition, different attitudes and objectives do not necessarily result in different management strategies, while the same objective can yield different strategies. For example, it is conceivable that passive and recreationist owners, which are identified in several forest owner typologies [15], manage their forest in a similar way. On the other hand, multi-objective owners may have a rather large variety of management strategies.…”

“…The objectives, attitudes and decision-making styles of private small-scale forest owners have been investigated in Europe and elsewhere over the last 25 years, leading to the development of many different forest owner typologies [3,[8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15]. These studies focused on the objectives and values of private owners, but rarely on actual management practices [16,17].…”

Comparison of alternative roundwood pricing systems – a simulation approach

“…In the real roundwood purchasing process, choosing the roundwood buyer by NIPF owners is complicated by a multitude of factors such as long-term seller-buyer relationships and environmental aspects (Sikanen 1999;Häyrinen et al 2014). None of these is contradictory to the results on the effects of different pricing systems; therefore, the tendencies of the results in the study can be considered reasonably reliable.…”

“…Although non-monetary values, such as reliability, resilience, aesthetic values and biodiversity, have a role for a segment of non-industrial private forest (NIPF) owners (Sikanen 1999;Häyrinen et al 2014), the monetary goals are most often decisive in selling roundwood. In forest economics, irrespective of the forest owner's preferences and consumption plans, it is assumed that the decision-maker will maximise the net present value of harvest revenue (Amacher et al 2009).…”

“…Mutanen and Toppinen 2007), the objectives of NIPF owners (e.g. Häyrinen et al 2014), and the management of the roundwood procurement process (e.g. Helstad 2006).…”