Forest Landowners and Advisor Relationships: Creating Collaborative Connections to Care Well for Forests

Jamison, Abigail L.; Muth, Allyson

doi:10.1080/08941920.2022.2080311

Cited by 3 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 27 publications

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“…Pennsylvania-based research has demonstrated that they develop an understanding of their forest, along-side a deep connection to it, identifying themselves and their land as part of one another (Metcalf et al 2012). A desire to care well for the forest -a stewardship ethic (Knoot et al 2009) -arises out of that connection (Egan and Jones 1993;Erickson et al 2002;Jamison and Muth 2022) but can be tempered by a lack of understanding of how to manage that resource. Caring for the forest can include practices like improving wildlife habitat, controlling non-native vegetation, and more (Butler et al 2016;Metcalf et al 2012).…”

Section: Pennsylvania Private Forestland Ownership and Traditional Fo...mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In seeking to implement more intensive management, landowners can turn to professional foresters. When trying to engage someone who has proper expertise, most landowners, whether out of relational or transactional need, hope to hire a professional who understands and shares their intrinsic value and land connection (Erickson et al 2002;Gootee et al 2010;Jamison and Muth 2022) or who can help them accomplish specific goals (Andrejczyk et al 2016;Chhetri et al 2018).…”

Section: Pennsylvania Private Forestland Ownership and Traditional Fo...mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Some interactions are short-term and transactional -to fill a pragmatic or economic need. Other landowners desire to create a longer-term stewardship relationship with someone who will help guide the improvement of their forestland for years (Knoot et al 2009;Jamison and Muth 2022). While central to the latter interactions, strong relationships between landowners and foresters can result in positive, sustained interactions even when the need is transactional.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…While central to the latter interactions, strong relationships between landowners and foresters can result in positive, sustained interactions even when the need is transactional. Yet, prior research has demonstrated that these interactions can fail in establishing strong relationships (Gootee et al 2010;Jamison and Muth 2022). This is problematic in that the absence of "thick," deeply interpersonal engagement between foresters and landowners potentially creates openings for practices inimical to private forestland sustainability.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This paper uses quotes and stories derived from the interviews conducted to illustrate themes, as well as to provide background on Pennsylvania private forestland ownership. The broader research inquiry on which this article is based focused on exploring the nature of landowners' experiences with their advisors, both peer and professional (Jamison and Muth 2022). Here, we focus solely on landowner relationships with consulting foresters.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Expertise, Identity, and Relationships in Private Forestry Practice

Jamison

Alter

Muth

2023

Small-scale Forestry

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In the management of private forests, it is important for a forester to understand and prescribe action rooted in sound science and technique but also in landowner values. Prior research has indicated that storytelling and sharing, which surface a landowner’s values, often result from an established, trusted connection with their forester. Empirical and experiential knowledge indicate that landowners and foresters who engage over prospective forest management often fail to create such a connection, leaving landowners feeling less trusting of the recommendations coming to them and vulnerable to the outcomes of potential unsustainable practices proposed by other actors. Such disconnect could be related to conflict between how landowners desire to engage foresters and the ways traditional forestry practice has prepared foresters. To further understand the landowner-forester disconnect and possibilities for overcoming it, this paper analyzes landowners’ interactional experiences with consulting foresters. Interviews with landowners indicated that professional and personal identities, as well as landowners’ perceptions of foresters, impacted the formation of a productive, working relationship between them. In their stories, landowners described that finding personal connections had the power to change their perceptions and catalyze the relationship. Results underscore the importance of allowing expert and personal identity to surface in order to create a relationship, informing the way in which foresters carry their expertise. This research suggests that being a forester is about being more than an expert, but also about being a knowledgeable and empathetic collaborator.

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Section: Pennsylvania Private Forestland Ownership and Traditional Fo...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Pennsylvania Private Forestland Ownership and Traditional Fo...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Expertise, Identity, and Relationships in Private Forestry Practice

Jamison

Alter

Muth

2023

Small-scale Forestry

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Outcomes of a Comprehensive Forest Landowner Extension Program

Guynn

Hiesl

Bible

et al. 2023

Journal of Forestry

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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. Study Implications: Despite extensive knowledge that is readily available to forest landowners, many landowners are still reluctant to implement forest management practices that lead to improved forest health. With over 87% of forest lands in South Carolina in private ownership, it is imperative to educate and encourage forest landowners to implement forest management practices that can help increase forest health. The outcome of a multiple methods evaluation of a forest management bus tour to educate landowners suggests that showing forest landowners management practices on the ground and explaining the associated terminology is likely to increase the adoption of forest management practices.

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Influence of Forester Traits and Advising Approaches on Landowners’ Intention to Follow Recommendations About Maple Sugarbush Management among Sap Producers in Wisconsin

Chang

Shaw

Solin

et al. 2023

Journal of Forestry

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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.

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Forest Landowners and Advisor Relationships: Creating Collaborative Connections to Care Well for Forests

Cited by 3 publications

References 27 publications

Expertise, Identity, and Relationships in Private Forestry Practice

Expertise, Identity, and Relationships in Private Forestry Practice

Outcomes of a Comprehensive Forest Landowner Extension Program

Influence of Forester Traits and Advising Approaches on Landowners’ Intention to Follow Recommendations About Maple Sugarbush Management among Sap Producers in Wisconsin

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