Non-industrial private forest owners’ knowledge of and attitudes towards nature conservation

The Flemish forest decree of 13 June 1990 is the result of 15 years intensive discussions and scrutiny by several concerned parties. The first draft was mainly the work of a small forestry group, consisting of members of the forest administration and the university. Afterwards this first draft has been thoroughly scrutinized by different pressure groups: private forest owners, local authorities, agricultural sector, nature conservation, rural planning and politicians. Finally a decree, that can be considered as a compromise, has been approved. In this decree the basic features of the first draft are still present but the influence of the pressure groups is manifest, especially from the nature conservationists and the agricultural lobby. Some articles are also rather confuse, because of controversy between the pressure groups.

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Conservation perspectives of small-scale private forest owners in Europe: A systematic review

AMBIO ◽

10.1007/s13280-021-01615-w ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Malin Tiebel ◽

Andreas Mölder ◽

Tobias Plieninger

Keyword(s):

Nature Conservation ◽

Forest Management ◽

Structural Changes ◽

Sustainable Forest Management ◽

Three Dimensions ◽

Small Scale ◽

Private Forest ◽

Private Forest Owners ◽

Forest Owners ◽

Private Forests

AbstractPrivate forest owners are the main forest ownership group within Europe, and important conservation values have been found on their land. Yet, small plot sizes, societal heterogeneity, and structural changes impede developing and implementing effective conservation programs in private forests. We present a systematic literature review focusing on small-scale private forest owners and their perspectives on nature conservation by synthesizing research approaches, social-ecological drivers, and policy recommendations. Conservation perspectives were positively related to female gender, higher levels of education, formalized forest management, an active relation to the forest, and ecological values of the property. In contrast, high age, rural orientation, economic forest management factors, large parcel size, and economic and sentimental property values negatively influenced conservation perspectives. Applying a natural resource conflict management framework, we synthesized recommendations covering three dimensions: substance, procedure, relationship. Considering perspectives of small-scale private forest owners in current forestry decision-making has great potential to strengthen sustainable forest management that integrates nature conservation and resource use.

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Small-scale private forest owners and the European Natura 2000 conservation network: perceived ecosystem services, management practices, and nature conservation attitudes

European Journal of Forest Research ◽

10.1007/s10342-021-01415-7 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Malin Tiebel ◽

Andreas Mölder ◽

Tobias Plieninger

Keyword(s):

Nature Conservation ◽

Ecosystem Services ◽

Management Practices ◽

Natura 2000 ◽

Small Scale ◽

Private Forest ◽

Private Forest Owners ◽

Forest Owners ◽

Conservation Attitudes ◽

Conservation Network

AbstractThe systematic designation of protected areas is a key strategy in modern biodiversity conservation. As for now, the Natura 2000 system of the European Union (EU) is the largest coordinated network of conservation areas worldwide. Since this scheme has a focus on forests, its effectiveness substantially depends on small-scale private forest owners who represent the largest forest ownership group in Europe. We conducted a quantitative survey (n = 1671) in Northwest Germany focusing on the perceived importance of ecosystem services, the performance of management practices, nature conservation attitudes, as well as stand characteristics of small-scale private forest owners with and without Natura 2000 sites. Forest owners perceived regulating and cultural services as more important than provisioning ecosystem services while having a multifunctional perspective on their forest. Owners with Natura 2000 sites had a stronger focus on resource use and, with the exception of habitat-tree protection, did not perform conservation measures more frequently than those without. Moreover, we found more negative nature conservation attitudes among this ownership group. In conclusion, the Natura 2000 scheme needs to be more strongly adapted to the demands of small-scale private forest owners, for example by increasing profound participation and establishing a results-based incentive scheme for conservation measures. The perspectives of small-scale private forest owners have to be considered comprehensively to ensure the effective and sustainable implementation of the Natura 2000 conservation network.

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Basel-Stadt und seine Wälder | Basel-Stadt and its forests

Schweizerische Zeitschrift fur Forstwesen ◽

10.3188/szf.2007.0216 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 158 (7) ◽

pp. 216-220 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Guido Bader

Keyword(s):

Drinking Water ◽

Nature Conservation ◽

Forest Management ◽

Forest Service ◽

Private Forest ◽

Private Forest Owners ◽

Forest Owners ◽

Significant Challenge ◽

Management Measures ◽

Vital Element

The canton Basel-Stadt is forested on about 12% of its area. The broadleaved dominated stands cover an area of 429 hectares, of which 90 hectares are the property of 330 private forest owners. The forest has great importance to Basel-Stadt and its people. In respect to nature conservation, the forest accommodates several treasures but for 190 000 people, it also serves as a highly valued area for recreation and as a vital element of the landscape. At the Langen Erlen reservation, approximately half of the drinking water for the canton Basel-Stadt is produced. By redirecting water from the Rhine into forested recharge areas, pure drinking water is gained in a unique, natural and sustainable way with the help of the forest. All the desired functions of the forest require a continuous and goal-oriented forest management. To settle all the manifold requirements in and around the forest and to coordinate the required management measures within the forest as an ecosystem, a significant challenge faces the forest service both currently and in the future.

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Private Forests in Nepal: Status and Policy Analysis

Journal of Forest and Livelihood ◽

10.3126/jfl.v15i1.23094 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 15 (1) ◽

pp. 120-130 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Swoyambhu M. Amatya ◽

Prakash Lamsal

Keyword(s):

Present Status ◽

National Level ◽

Timber Harvesting ◽

Lessons Learned ◽

Private Land ◽

Private Forest ◽

Community Forest ◽

Private Forest Owners ◽

Forest Owners ◽

Private Forests

This paper reviews and analyses the present status of private forests and tenure administration in light of existing legal, policy, and regulatory frameworks in Nepal. Additionally, the present status of private forests, as well as the scenarios of timber harvesting, transportation, marketing, and their administration are thoroughly revised. Provisions regarding forests and trees on private land and their basis are examined and implications are articulated for potential policy improvements for enhanced tenure security. It is shown that robust national-level policies and legal frameworks exist, and that there is an increasing trend of timber flows to markets from private forests over the past five years. However, there is still skepticism, mistrust and fear amongst private forest owners, saw millers, and forest administration that prevents the full use of the bundle of rights that legal and policy provisions have promised. An unusually slow pace of private forest registration, lengthy and multi stage processes for obtaining harvesting and transportation permits, and official bans on important commercial species, among others, are found to be the factors that most hinder the private forest owners’ and tree growers’ interests, and their rights and obligations with respect to the management and use of their private forest resources. It is concluded that a simplified permitting process along with programmatic support would promote and help to grow private forestry and that Nepal’s experience and lessons learned from community forest implementation would be a great asset to move towards this end. Connecting community forest user groups for organised and cooperative action, and mobilising their institutional strength and accumulated funds for pro-farmer technical and regulatory support would allow farmers to intensify tree plantations and forest management. Further steps are required to convince policymakers and secure necessary budgetary support to this end..

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