The role of cultural models in local perceptions of SFM – Differences and similarities of interest groups from three boreal regions

Abstract

Differences in the way local and regional interest groups perceive Sustainable Forest Management in regions with different forest use histories were studied using Southeastern Finland, the Mauricie in Quebec and Central Labrador in Canada as examples of regions with high, medium and low importance of commercial forestry. We present a conceptual model illustrating the cyclic interaction between the forest, cultural models about forests and forest management. We hypothesized that peoples' perceptions would be influenced by their cultural models about forests and would thus vary amongst regions with different forest use histories and among different interest groups. The weightings of the environmental, economic and social components of sustainability as well as themes important for each of the interest groups were elicited using individual listing of SFM indicators and group work aimed at developing a consensus opinion on a common indicator list. In Southeastern Finland the views of the different groups were polarized along the environmenteeconomy axis, whereas in Central Labrador all groups were environmentally oriented. The social dimension was low overall except among the Metis and the Innu in Labrador. Only environmental groups were similar in all three research regions, the largest differences between regions were found among the forestry professionals in their weightings concerning economy and nature. As the importance of commercial forestry increased, a greater importance of economic issues was expressed whereas the opposite trend was observed for issues regarding nature. Also inter-group differences grew as the importance of commercial forestry increased in the region. Forest management and forest use can be seen as factors strongly influencing peoples' cultural models on forests.

Changes in resident attitudes towards tourism development and conservation in the Okavango Delta, Botswana

“…These factors have created a sense of local ownership over natural resources hence create the development of positive attitudes by residents towards tourism and conservation. Berninger et al (2009) argue that local natural and socio-cultural conditions, public discourse and individual experiences contribute to local attitudes towards conservation. This, therefore shows that it's not only economic benefits that determine resident attitudes towards conservation.…”

Effects of presenting forest simulation results on the forest values and attitudes of forestry professionals and other forest users in Central Labrador

“…The number of indicators used was limited since we wanted to reduce the cognitive load to the participants. The goal was to select indicators that reflect the important factors and preferred indicators suggested by the local people as described in Berninger et al (2009). The amount of roads is both used as an economic indicator of logging costs and an ecological indicator of habitat fragmentation.…”

Nordic forest professionals’ values

“…The only empirical international comparison concerning professionals' values has been Berninger et al (2008) who found that these values varied between countries depending on the relative role of forestry. Their data came from three regions in Finland and Canada and showed in particular that as the importance of commercial forestry increased, the more the importance of economic issues was expressed.…”