Mental and Biophysical Terrains of Biodiversity: Conserving Oak on Family Forests

From the small woodland problem to ecosocial systems: the evolution of social research on small-scale forestry in Sweden and the USA

“…It has now become well accepted in Sweden and the USA that small-scale forest owners manage for multiple goals, including to enjoy beauty and scenery, protect nature and biodiversity, maintain forest acreage as part of a farm or homestead, pass land to heirs and have privacy (Brunson et al, 1996;Butler, 2008;Campbell & Kittredge, 1996;Dutcher et al, 2004;Erickson et al, 2002;Fischer & Bliss, 2006Jacobson, 2002;Westholm, 1992;Tö rnqvist, 1995;Lönnstedt, 1998;Lidestav & Nordfjell, 2005;Hugosson & Ingemarson, 2004;Berlin et al, 2006). Income through timber production continues to be an important activity for small-scale forest owners (Johnson et al, 1997(Johnson et al, , 1999Carlén, 1990;Lönnstedt, 1998;Ingermarson, 2004), but few owners prioritize timber production over maintenance of forest amenities (Westholm, 1992;Jones et al, 1995;Tö rnqvist, 1995;Brunson et al, 1996;Lidestav & Nordfjell, 2005;Ingemarson et al, 2006;Butler, 2008).…”

“…Consequently, monetary incentives were the policy tools that were most commonly used to encourage more intensive management to increase productivity (Cubbage, 1996). Incentives were also used to encourage owners to reforest and improve stands on their properties, often with commercial conifer species in plantations (Sampson & DeCoster, 1997;Best & Wayburn, 2001;Appelstrand, 2007), and sometimes in the USA at the expense of native hardwoods (Fischer & Bliss, 2006). Studies suggesting that the environmental attitudes and values of family forest owners were more closely aligned with those of the general public than with those of forest industry were met with skepticism from forestry professionals (Bliss, 2000).…”

Forest Values and Forest Management Attitudes among Private Forest Owners in Sweden

“…Hence, today forests are characterized by multiple uses, and it is quite accepted for private forest owners to associate multiple values with their forests resource-restoration, conservation, production, maintenance, etc. [4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13]. In addition to multiple uses of forests, there are also multiple rationales for forest management.…”

Comparative Advantages of Small-Scale Forestry Among Emerging Forest Tenures

“…Many have resided on or near their forestland, learning from long-standing familiarity and experience about local growing conditions, soil capabilities and weather patterns. The encyclopaedic knowledge of some owners about their own specific piece of ground can be astounding (as documented by Bliss 1992 andFischer andBliss 2006). Owners know local and regional markets, as well as the dynamics of local society.…”