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

Abstract

The study focuses on forest management in four Michigan counties (Alpena, Barry, Newaygo, and Washtenaw). The study examines: 1) management practices on private land, and 2) how incentive programs can encourage landholders to develop a forest stewardship plan, a custom plan that describes your personal goals, unique forest resources, and suggested management activities for your land. This study will inform state and national programs that address landholders' needs. Description of ParticipationAs the owner of one or several forest plot(s) in Michigan, we invite you to participate in this study. If you agree to be part of the study, you will complete a 15-20-minute survey at a time and location of your choosing, and return this booklet in a pre-paid envelope.We give you the option to end or continue your participation in the study after submitting the survey. If you continue, you will receive either information on how to claim a $150 stipend upon initiation of a forest stewardship plan with the Michigan DNR, or an invitation to an interactive educational workshop co-hosted by the Michigan DNR on how to develop a forest stewardship plan. The workshop will take plan in the county where your forested land is location. The exact date, time and location of the workshops is to be determined, but will take place in 2018. Voluntary ParticipationTaking part in this study is completely voluntary. When completing the survey, you may skip any questions that you do not want to answer. You may choose to end your participation in the study after submitting the survey. Additionally, you are free to stop and withdraw from the study at any time. BenefitsYou may directly benefit from being in this study as you will receive information and support that can help you develop a forest stewardship plan and sustainably manage your forested land. However, participation in the study does not obligate you to enroll in any management programs or adopt any management activities. RisksThere are no foreseeable risks to taking part in this study. There is a rare chance that you may develop a forest management plan that you are unable to complete for financial reasons or a lack of decision making authority on the forest land. CompensationYou will not be compensated for completing the survey. If you choose to continue in the study, you may be eligible for a $150 stipend. Because this study pays more than $100, the University of Michigan will collect your name, address, social security number and payment amount. This information will be safely stored and used for income tax reporting purposes only if your total payments from the University of Michigan are greater than $600 in a calendar year (January through December). If you receive more than $600 in payments You have reached the end of the survey Please place this completed survey booklet in the self-addressed envelope. Then drop it in the nearest mailbox! Thank you for your valuable time!

Improving Communications to Increase Nonindustrial Private Forest Landowner (NIPF) Participation in Forest Certification Programs: A Case Study in Arkansas, USA

“…Several studies have explored nonindustrial private forest (NIPF) landowners' attitudes towards and perceptions of forest certification programs in an effort to promote future enrollment in the United States. For example, research has found a range of support for private forestland certification [4][5][6], as well as a multitude of drivers for certification program participation, including passion for environmental stewardship [7], education [4], age, and management activity level [8]. Furthermore, research investigating barriers to certification for NIPF landowners has consistently found that certification costs [3,5,[9][10][11][12] and strict program requirements (e.g., required management plans) [9][10][11] are significant hurdles for landowners.…”