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

Forests ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 86
Author(s):  
Elena C. Rubino ◽  
Nana Tian ◽  
Matthew H. Pelkki
Keyword(s):  
Forest Management ◽  
Information Sources ◽  
Timber Harvesting ◽  
Perceived Usefulness ◽  
Forest Certification ◽  
Private Forest ◽  
Certification Programs ◽  
Management Actions ◽  
Nonindustrial Private Forest ◽  
Nipf Landowners

Despite the socioeconomic and ecological significance of the 10.4 million acres of forestland owned by nonindustrial private forest (NIPF) landowners across Arkansas (approximately 58% of forestland in the state), only 5% of this land is certified through the American Tree Farm System. As such, understanding how to improve the reach and content of communications to NIPF landowners is vital for expanding certification participation and subsequent improvement of forest management in Arkansas and throughout the southern United States. To explore current and optimal communications to increase NIPF participation, we employed Berlo’s source–message–channel–receiver (SMCR, 1960) model to analyze survey data collected from Arkansas NIPF landowners regarding their familiarity with, interest in, and information sources for forest certification programs. Our results indicate that NIPF landowners have a relatively low familiarity with certification programs and a low interest in adopting a certification program regardless of personal involvement throughout the certification process, the transparency of on-sight inspections to the public, and the requirements of forest management plans. However, positive correlations were found between self-reported familiarity with certification programs and the perceived usefulness of various information sources, indicating that communications to NIPF landowners have the ability to be influential. Furthermore, the results showed that the greatest perceived benefits to landowners were improved timber growth and health, better management actions, and environmentally-friendly timber harvesting, whereas the most concerning perceived drawbacks were increased record-keeping and paperwork as well as management costs. These findings will offer actionable insights into future messaging campaigns and provide directions for new approaches of reaching NIPF landowners to increase their participation in forest certification.

Landowner Concern about Wildfires and Implementation of Fuel Reduction Treatments

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anusha Shrestha ◽  
Robert K Grala ◽  
Stephen C Grado ◽  
Scott D Roberts ◽  
Jason S Gordon
Keyword(s):  
Forest Management ◽  
Private Forest ◽  
Fuel Reduction ◽  
Fuel Treatment ◽  
Hazard Potential ◽  
Treatment Implementation ◽  
Wildfire Hazard ◽  
Management Plans ◽  
Nonindustrial Private Forest ◽  
Nipf Landowners

Abstract Fuel reduction treatments implemented by nonindustrial private forest (NIPF) landowners affect wildfire hazard potential on both their tracts and surrounding lands. However, it is not clear how concerned they are about wildfire damages and what actions they are willing to take to lower wildfire hazard. This study determined the landowner concern level about wildfire damages and identified factors affecting their concern and fuel treatment implementation using seemingly unrelated and binary probit models, respectively. Approximately, 68% of landowners were concerned about property damage due to wildfires, and 45% implemented some fuel reduction treatments. The most common and least costly fuel treatment was prescribed burning ($18/acre) followed by chemical ($59/acre) and mechanical ($127/acre) treatments. Raising awareness about potential monetary losses due to wildfires, assisting landowners in preparing written forest management plans, and prioritizing areas with predominant pine cover will encourage landowner participation in hazardous fuel reduction programs and facilitate more effective wildfire mitigation. Study Implications Nonindustrial private forest (NIPF) landowners were concerned about monetary damages due to wildfires, which influenced their implementation of fuel reduction treatments. Estimates of fuel treatment cost and implementation frequency provide baseline information necessary to determine cost-effectiveness of various fuel treatments for their subsequent prioritization. Programs and policies that increase awareness among landowners about potential monetary losses due to wildfires, facilitate preparation of forest management plans with wildfire hazard mitigation prescriptions, and prioritize areas with high wildfire hazard potential are needed to increase implementation of hazardous fuel reduction treatments by NIPF landowners to reduce wildfire intensity and severity.

scholarly journals What do Louisiana and Mississippi Nonindustrial Private Forest Landowners Think about Forest Certification?

2007 ◽  
Vol 31 (4) ◽  
pp. 170-175 ◽  
Author(s):  
Priyan Perera ◽  
Richard P. Vlosky ◽  
Glenn Hughes ◽  
Michael A. Dunn
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
The United States ◽  
Forest Certification ◽  
Private Forest ◽  
Private Landowner ◽  
Environmental Nongovernmental Organizations ◽  
Nonindustrial Private Forest ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Professional Foresters ◽  
Nipf Landowners

Abstract Nonindustrial private forest (NIPF) landowners own the majority of timberlands in the southern United States. As forest certification becomes more prevalent, it is important to understand the implications for NIPF landowners. This study, conducted in 2005–2006, reveals how well NIPF landowners in Louisiana and Mississippi understand forest certification, willingness to pay to become certified, and general perceptions about the certification process and implementation requirements. We surveyed 1,200 randomly selected NIPF landowners from each state that owned 10 ac or more of timberland in 2005. A total of 591 usable surveys resulted in an overall adjusted response rate of 30%. Forty percent of respondents believe certification is necessary on public lands. However, their lowest level of agreement is with the need for certification on private forestlands. Respondents believe certification in the United States is driven by environmental nongovernmental organizations rather than by demand in the marketplace. Private landowner organizations and approved professional foresters are the most trusted entities to administer and monitor certification. Results also suggest that respondents are generally not averse to having certifiers monitor their forest management activities; however, a majority are unwilling to bear the cost of certification.

Industrial Forest Management Assistance and Leasing: 1983 Programs and Accomplishments in Georgia

1985 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 217-222 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frederick W. Cubbage ◽  
Thomas M. Skinner
Keyword(s):  
Forest Management ◽  
Forest Products ◽  
The State ◽  
Forest Industry ◽  
Private Forest ◽  
Assistance Programs ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Industrial Forest ◽  
Nonindustrial Private Forest ◽  
Nipf Landowners

Abstract A survey of industrial forest management assistance and leasing programs indicated that a wide range of forest management services were provided to nonindustrial private forest (NIPF) landowners in Georgia. In 1983, approximately 6% of the commercial NIPF land in the state was leased by forest industry and about 1% was covered under industry management assistance programs. Forest products firms site-prepared 50,000 acres, planted about 38,000, and hand seeded about 20,000 acres of NIPF land. Costs for services seemed similar to industry averages. Leasing programs have been maintained the longest and help in managing more NIPF land, but are decreasing somewhat in area covered. Management assistance programs are generally newer and smaller in Georgia, but are increasing moderately in size.²

Timber Harvesting by Nonindustrial Private Forest Landowners in Western Oregon

1995 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 66-71 ◽  
Author(s):  
David A. Cleaves ◽  
Max Bennett
Keyword(s):  
Timber Harvesting ◽  
Private Forest ◽  
Partial Cutting ◽  
Commercial Thinning ◽  
Natural Tendency ◽  
Nipf Owners ◽  
Nonindustrial Private Forest ◽  
Farm Ownership ◽  
Acquisition Method ◽  
Nipf Landowners

Abstract A survey of nonindustrial private forest (NIPF) landowners in Western Oregon was analyzed to gain insights about their harvesting activity. Past participation in harvesting, harvest type, and future intentions for harvest were related to ownership size, tenure, residence, form of organization, method of acquisition, occupation, age, and income. Thirty percent of the respondents reported harvesting at least once during the 1979-1989 period. Higher rates of harvest participation were found for larger ownership sizes, longer tenure, corporate organization, farm ownership, and higher personal income. At least some of the influence of size on reported participation came from the natural tendency of larger ownerships to have a greater variety of acres eligible for harvest. Ownership size combined with a variety of demographic factors--tenure, residence, form of organization, acquisition method, occupation, and income--influenced whether the harvest was a clearcut or a commercial thinning. Commercial thinning and thinning/clearcutting combination harvests were more common than clearcutting. Landowners were generally willing to harvest in the future; more than two-thirds of the NIPF acreage is controlled by owners with definite harvest plans. Owners who reported no intentions to harvest had little past harvesting activity. The predominance of thinning and other forms of partial cutting by smaller NIPF owners may indicate opportunities to improve the condition of NIPFs through assistance in selective cutting. West. J. Appl. For. 10(2):66-71.

scholarly journals Forest Management Expenses of Mississippi's Nonindustrial Private Forest Landowners

2002 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 93-98 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathryn G. Arano ◽  
Tamara L. Cushing ◽  
Ian A. Munn
Keyword(s):  
Forest Management ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Specific Activity ◽  
Professional Services ◽  
Property Taxes ◽  
Private Forest ◽  
Timber Management ◽  
Nonindustrial Private Forest ◽  
Over Time ◽  
Nipf Landowners

Abstract Detailed information about the forest management expenditures incurred by nonindustrial private forest (NIPF) landowners over time provides a wealth of information about costs associated with forestland ownership, management practices implemented by NIPF landowners, and changes in management intensity over time. A survey of Mississippi's nonindustrial private forest (NIPF) landowners owning 20 ac or more of forestland was conducted to determine their annual expenditures on forest management practices for the period 1995–1997. Landowners were asked how much they spent on property taxes, professional services, timber management activities, and other management activities. The resulting expenditures data were summarized in three ways: frequency of occurrence, mean expenditures per-acreowned for all respondents, and mean expenditures per-acreowned for those respondents engaged in each activity. With the exception of property taxes, most expenditures occur infrequently. Fewer than 15% of all respondents incurred expenditures for any specific activity during any survey year. Total annual expenditures for all respondents averaged $9.68/ac-owned over the study period. Across all landowners, property taxes represented the largest component of annual expenditures with planting costs and consulting forester fees ranking second and third. Mean expenditures for only those respondents engaged in each activity told a slightly different tale. Planting and consulting forester fees were the two largest expenditures, but site preparation, timber cruising, timber marking, and surveyor fees were all greater than property taxes for those engaged in these activities. South. J. Appl. For. 26(2):93–98.

scholarly journals Segmenting Southern Nonindustrial Private Forest Landowners on the Basis of Their Management Objectives and Motivations for Wood-Based Bioenergy

2011 ◽  
Vol 35 (2) ◽  
pp. 87-92 ◽  
Author(s):  
Omkar Joshi ◽  
Sayeed R. Mehmood
Keyword(s):  
Forest Management ◽  
Alternative Fuels ◽  
Multiple Objective ◽  
Private Forest ◽  
Educational Strategies ◽  
Forest Landowners ◽  
Outreach Programs ◽  
Management Objectives ◽  
Nonindustrial Private Forest ◽  
Nipf Landowners

Abstract This study segments nonindustrial private forest (NIPF) landowners in Arkansas, Florida, and Virginia on the basis of their forest management objectives and their willingness to supply wood-based biomass for bioenergy. A two-step cluster analysis was used to segment NIPF landowners of all three states into three distinct groups, namely bioenergy conservationists, multiple-objective landowners, and passive landowners. The results revealed that there was notable variation among NIPF landowners in terms of their interest in wood-based bioenergy and forest management objectives. A solid majority of bioenergy conservationists (58%) were familiar with the concept of producing alternative fuels from wood. Similarly, multiple-objective landowners' willingness to supply wood-based biomass (63%) was highest among all three segments. Bioenergy-friendly conservationists and multiple-objective landowners were more likely to be receptive to outreach activities. Further, given low motivation scores for passive managers, this group of landowners would require focused outreach programs to increase their interest in bioenergy. This study suggested appropriate outreach and educational strategies to communicate with each audience segment.

Timber Market Development from Private Forests in Northwestern Minnesota

1991 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 153-155 ◽  
Author(s):  
Timothy J. O'Hara ◽  
A. Scott Reed
Keyword(s):  
Timber Harvesting ◽  
Private Forest ◽  
Information Industry ◽  
Private Forests ◽  
Marketing Process ◽  
Future Behavior ◽  
Process Guidance ◽  
Timber Market ◽  
Nonindustrial Private Forest ◽  
Nipf Landowners

Abstract Expanding timber industries in Minnesota are increasing the demand for timber. Questions about the suitability of public lands to increase timber output imply a more significant role for nonindustrial private forest (NIPF) land. Surveys of both NIPF landowners and industry in a five-county region assessed NIPF owner marketing behavior and opportunities to increase timber utilization from these lands. Results showed that former experiences of owners are suggestive of future behavior. Landowners who had used forestry advice in the past displayed a greater willingness to harvest timber than nonusers of forestry advice. Absentee owners in the study area represented a reserve of comparatively underutilized timber and expressed a need for marketing process guidance including timber pricing information. Industry respodents forecast increased reliance on NIPF timber and were dedicated to greater contributions of time and financial support of programs to stimulate timber harvesting and management on NIPF lands. North. J. Appl. For. 8(4):153-155.

Vom Forst zum Wald. Entwicklungstendenzen im naturnahen Waldbau | From a Production-Oriented Forest to a Multipurpose Forest. New Trends in Near-Natural Silviculture

1999 ◽  
Vol 150 (12) ◽  
pp. 484-488 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wolf Hockenjos
Keyword(s):  
Forest Management ◽  
Timber Harvest ◽  
Timber Harvesting ◽  
Natural Forest ◽  
The Other ◽  
Private Forest ◽  
Wide Spread ◽  
Great Demand ◽  
The Past ◽  
Forest Enterprises

Concepts of near-natural forestry are in great demand these days. Most German forest administrations and private forest enterprises attach great importance to being as «near-natural» as possible. This should allow them to make the most of biological rationalisation. The concept of near-natural forestry is widely accepted, especially by conservationists. However, it is much too early to analyse how successful near-natural forestry has been to date, and therefore to decide whether an era of genuine near-natural forest management has really begun. Despite wide-spread recognition, near-natural forestry is jeopardised by mechanised timber harvesting, and particularly by the large-timber harvester. The risk is that machines, which are currently just one element of the timber harvest will gain in importance and gradually become the decisive element. The forest would then be forced to meet the needs of machinery, not the other way round. Forests would consequently become so inhospitable that they would bear no resemblance to the sylvan image conjured up by potential visitors. This could mean taking a huge step backwards: from a near-natural forest to a forest dominated by machinery. The model of multipurpose forest management would become less viable, and the forest would become divided into areas for production, and separate areas for recreation and ecology. The consequences of technical intervention need to be carefully considered, if near-natural forestry is not to become a thing of the past.

Program Participation Behavior of Nonindustrial Forest Landowners: A Probit Analysis

1996 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 323-336 ◽  
Author(s):  
Venkatarao Nagubadi ◽  
Kevin T. McNamara ◽  
William L. Hoover ◽  
Walter L. Mills
Keyword(s):  
Probit Model ◽  
Probit Analysis ◽  
Program Participation ◽  
Willingness To Participate ◽  
Private Forest ◽  
Sources Of Information ◽  
Cost Share ◽  
Assistance Programs ◽  
Nonindustrial Private Forest ◽  
Nipf Landowners

AbstractThis study provides an analysis of nonindustrial private forest (NIPF) landowners' participation in forestry assistance programs. A probit model was used for data collected from a random sample of 329 Indiana landowners. The analysis revealed that total land owned, commercial reasons for ownership, government sources of information, and membership in forestry organizations influenced NIPF landowners' program participation. Age, fear of loss of property rights, and duration since the first wooded tract was acquired also influenced program participation. Location of landowners' residence on their wooded land and landowners' knowledge of and willingness to participate in a conservation easement influenced the participation in cost-share programs.

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