Knowing is not enough: exploring the missing link between climate change knowledge and action of German forest owners and managers

Abstract

& Key message Adaptation to climate change is a complex but urgent task in forest management; however, a lack of action is widely reported. This study shows that adaptive action on both stand and business levels is missing in forest management. Beyond the cognitive dimension, affective and conative aspects should be promoted through awareness-raising initiatives specific to different target groups. & Context Adaptation to climate change is a complex but urgent task in forest management. A lack of action is widely reported combined with a call for awareness-raising and better knowledge transfer to bridge the gap between knowledge and action. & Aims Based on an understanding of awareness encompassing cognitive, affective, and conative dimensions, the paper aims to clarify ( 1) what kind of adaptive measures are missing in forest management and (2) if there is a gap in climate change awareness of forest owners and managers hindering adaptive action. & Methods An online survey among German forest owners and managers was conducted. The theory of planned behavior was selected to examine variables which support the implementation of adaptive measures and to examine different awareness dimensions. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and multiple linear regression analysis. & Results Adaptive measures on stand level were more often implemented than those on business level. All awareness dimensions were influential for the intention to implement adaptive measures. Experience and attitude towards adaptive measures were most important while social norm and perceived behavioral control were influential in some groups. & Conclusion The potential of adaptive measures on stand level and particularly on business level is not fully exploited. Based on these findings, awareness-raising initiatives and forest consultancy can be adapted to consider the specific perspectives of target groups as a means of promoting the implementation of adaptive measures.

Improving the Representation of Climate Change Adaptation Behaviour in New Zealand’s Forest Growing Sector

“…The Protection Motivation Theory (PMT) is another psychological theory that explains forest owners' behaviour [54,60]. PMT was originally developed based on the expectancy value theory to explain the effects of fear appeals on health attitudes and behaviours [52,53].…”

Perceived climate change risks among other risks affecting private forest owners in a top-down decision-making process

“…The previous experience of German PFOs with various hazards was essential in assessing future damage risk (Hengst-Ehrhart 2019). Perceiving a higher risk of future damages did not make PFOs adapt forests at large scale, focusing on tree or stand level (Pröbstl-Haider et al 2017;Hengst-Ehrhart 2019). In the case of small Canadian PFOs, the risks as pests, pathogens, temperature variations and precipitations were not especially linked to climate change (Bissonnette et al 2017).…”

Application of Climate-Smart Forestry – Forest Manager Response to the Relevance of European Definition and Indicators

“…As evidenced by the survey results the connection between public interest and the realities of practice needs to be strengthened, so that the public understand the ways in which forest management aids the fight against climate change, supports economies and provides important services (see sections 3.4 and 3.5). Even more urgent is the need to create pathways for learning and understanding to make new approaches and policy and practice accessible to managers, as in general there is a certain level of frustration with the inability to respond accordingly to threats such as climate change and disturbances (Pinkard et al, 2015;Hengst-Ehrhart, 2019). However, adaptation measures are difficult to implement on a wide-scale, with varying constraints of national systems and patterns of ownership (Andersson et al, 2017).…”

“…Enhanced climate change and adaptation communication for forests will not only depend on connecting with forest managers, but also others in the supply chain such as contractors and processors, as well as other land use managers (Blanco et al, 2017;Carter et al, 2018). Two powerful catalysts for encouraging action or implementing modified thinking and adaptation are 'experience and learning', as well as 'seeing is believing' (Weber, 2016;Hengst-Ehrhart, 2019) which is evidenced by demonstration being ranked as the preferred way to learn. However, this type of delivery is more challenging when disseminating and relating to large numbers of managers across diverse landscapes.…”