scholarly journals Perspectives of four stakeholder groups about the participation of female forest landowners in forest management in Georgia, United States

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (8) ◽  
pp. e0256654
Author(s):  
Jacqueline Miner ◽  
Puneet Dwivedi ◽  
Robert Izlar ◽  
Danielle Atkins ◽  
Parag Kadam
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Forest Management ◽  
Policy Development ◽  
Sustainable Forest Management ◽  
Forest Policy ◽  
The United States ◽  
Future Generations ◽  
Educational Outreach ◽  
Forest Landowners ◽  
Stakeholder Groups

As the number of female forest landowners (FFLs) in the United States continues to rise, there is an increasing need to understand the perceptions of stakeholder groups about opportunities and challenges faced by FFLs in the context of sustainable forestland management. This study utilizes the technique of SWOT-AHP (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Treats—Analytical Hierarchy Process) to understand the perceptions of four stakeholder groups (FFLs, private foresters, government representatives, and non-profits) in Georgia–a significant forestry state located in the Southern United States. Sixteen factors (four under each SWOT category) were selected through a comprehensive literature review and detailed interviews with individuals from the identified stakeholder groups. A survey was created using these factors that asked stakeholders to compare them in their respective SWOT categories. An additional survey was created for each stakeholder group where survey participants compared the highest-ranking factors in each SWOT category. We found that all stakeholder groups prioritized weaknesses over the other SWOT categories. Results showed a significant need for relevant educational outreach programs that cater specifically to FFLs. Additionally, researchers found a need to promote the interest of future generations in forestland management as all stakeholder groups felt that limited interest from future generations was the most important threat. This study will directly feed into regional, national, and international attempts to increase the participation of minority family forest landowners in sustainable forest management through integrated forest policy development.

scholarly journals Sustainable Forest Management for Nontimber Products

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. 2670 ◽  
Author(s):  
James Chamberlain ◽  
Christine Small ◽  
Michelle Baumflek
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Forest Management ◽  
Cultural Values ◽  
Sustainable Management ◽  
Sustainable Forest Management ◽  
Research Priorities ◽  
Forest Products ◽  
The United States ◽  
Nontimber Forest Products ◽  
Medicinal Species

Many of the plants and fungi that are harvested for nontimber products (e.g., foods, medicines, crafts) are critical to healthy forest ecosystems. These products also are essential to rural societies, contributing to the material and nonmaterial composition of communities and cultures. Product sales make important contributions at all economic scales, from household to national economies. Nontimber forest products (NTFPs) have been harvested for generations, sometimes centuries, yet they are seldom integrated into forest management. Few methods exist for inventory and assessment, and there is little evidence that harvests are sustainable. This article examines three elements of sustainable forest management for nontimber products: sociocultural, economic, and ecological, and elaborates with detailed examples of edible and medicinal species from United States (U.S.) forests. We synthesize the state of knowledge and emerging issues, and identify research priorities that are needed to advance sustainable management of NTFPs in the United States. Despite their social, economic, and ecological values, many of these species and resources are threatened by the overuse and lack of management and market integration. Sustainable management for nontimber products is attainable, but much research and development is needed to ensure the long-term sustainability of these resources and their cultural values, and to realize their economic potentials.

scholarly journals Attitudes toward Policy Instruments Promoting Wood-To-Energy Initiatives in the United States

2011 ◽  
Vol 35 (2) ◽  
pp. 73-79 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francisco X. Aguilar ◽  
Adam M. Saunders
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Forest Management ◽  
Energy Policy ◽  
Sustainable Forest Management ◽  
Policy Instruments ◽  
Tax Incentives ◽  
The United States ◽  
Forest Sector ◽  
Policy Tools ◽  
Us South

Abstract An array of policy instruments has been adopted across the United States in an effort to promote greater wood-to-energy uses. This research elicited attitudes toward wood-to-energy policy instruments among forest sector stakeholders to identify the most preferred policy tools. Test statistics identified differences between perceptions from US South and non-US South respondents regarding the capacity of tax incentives; subsidies and grants; rules and regulations; education; and consultation to meet policy ecological, economic, social, and political criteria. Examples of particular instruments adopted by various states were used to evaluate their capacity in addressing specific energy, forest management, and market dimensions of wood-to-energy policy. Results suggest preference for the implementation of education programs and the adoption of tax incentive instruments, followed by rules and regulations. US South respondents have less favorable views of subsidies and grants and rules and regulations than respondents from the rest of the country to meet policy evaluation criteria. Based on the analysis of state-specific policy tools, tax incentives were deemed the best positioned to generate more renewable energy from woody feedstocks and education and consultation were the best suited to meet energy and sustainable forest management objectives. A combination of approaches will be the most adequate to meet multiple policy criteria.

scholarly journals Advancing the cause? Contributions of criteria and indicators to sustainable forest management in Canada

2011 ◽  
Vol 87 (04) ◽  
pp. 488-493 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Duinker
Keyword(s):  
Forest Management ◽  
Policy Development ◽  
Sustainable Forest Management ◽  
Forest Policy ◽  
Forest Sector ◽  
Full Potential ◽  
Criteria And Indicators ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Practical Experiences ◽  
Forest Values

The aim of the paper is to take stock, based on my personal scholarly and practical experiences, of the progress made in Canada with criteria and indicators of sustainable forest management (C&I-SFM). Some developmental history is reviewed, and applications at national and local levels are summarized. In my opinion, Canada's work in developing and applying C&I-SFM has been beneficial, particularly in focussing forest-sector dialogues, in sensitizing people to the wide range of forest values, and in retrospective determinations of progress in SFM. Improvements over the next decade are needed in several areas: (a) improving data-collection programs; (b) linking C&I-SFM more directly into forest policy development; (c) shifting from retrospective to prospective sustainability analysis; and (d) applying C&I-SFM to non-industrial forests such as protected areas and urban forests. The C&I-SFM concept is sound. We have yet to tap its full potential in the pursuit of forest and forest-sector sustainability.

scholarly journals The Terms Foresters and Planners in the United States Use to Infer Sustainability in Forest Management Plans: A Survey Analysis

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 17 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alba Rocio Gutierrez Garzon ◽  
Pete Bettinger ◽  
Jacek Siry ◽  
Bin Mei ◽  
Jesse Abrams
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Forest Management ◽  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Sustainable Forest Management ◽  
The United States ◽  
Survey Analysis ◽  
Forest Sustainability ◽  
Management Plans ◽  
Sample Technique ◽  
Forest Plans

Sustainable forest management is important for advancing sustainable societal development. Effective communication plays a major role in how goals and objectives are achieved. This study aims to assess how sustainability is considered by people who develop forest management plans (or forest plans in short). We employed the snowball sample technique to locate the study’s respondents. In addition, an open-ended questionnaire and a mix method data collection (phone and email) and analysis (qualitative and quantitative) were found to be adequate methods to survey forest planners who have been involved in the development, implementation, evaluation, and/or revision of forest plans in the United States. Our approach helped us to understand their perceptions of and means of incorporating sustainability concerns in forest plans. A total of 55 surveys were completed by forest planners physically located in 26 of the 50 states in the country. Results suggested that planners generally placed environmental sustainability concerns over social and economic sustainability concerns. A variety of key terms were central to forest planners’ attempts to communicate sustainability, from which most were associated with philosophical and temporal principles that would then be associated with concrete actions and the human dimension. Nevertheless, respondents also acknowledged difficulties and misunderstandings in describing how forest sustainability should be demonstrated within a forest plan. Topics such as restoration, carbon sequestration, and resilience were infrequently associated with sustainability and sustainable forest management. Finally, we found that the respondents were divided on whether the language used in forest plans to demonstrate sustainability could be improved.

scholarly journals Forest policy goals in Poland in light of the current forestry aims in Europe Part 2. Forest policy priorities in Europe

2018 ◽  
Vol 79 (2) ◽  
pp. 169-179
Author(s):  
Adam Kaliszewski
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Forest Management ◽  
Policy Development ◽  
Sustainable Forest Management ◽  
Forest Policy ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Policy Goals ◽  
Almost All ◽  
Council Of Ministers

Abstract The aim of the paper was to evaluate the priorities set for policy-making in forestry formulated under the Forest Europe process and in programmes, policies, strategies and legal acts of the European Union after 1997, which is also the year when the Polish ‘National Forest Policy’ was adopted by the Council of Ministers. During the last two decades, rapid policy development has been occurring Europe-wide. Forest policy goals defined within the Forest Europe process have also been reflected in EU’s strategic documents and legal acts and both processes are complementary as well as influencing each other. Forest policy priorities after 1997 cover all three major aspects of sustainable forest management (SFM): ecological, economic and social. However, the main emphasis has been put on economic and social aspects of SFM. The key priorities defined in numerous Forest Europe and EU documents are the following: enhancing the role of forests and forest management in mitigating climate change including the promotion of production and wide use of wood; adapting forests to climate change and changing environmental conditions; conserving, protecting and enhancing forest biodiversity; enhancing the role of forests and forest management in rural development; fostering coordination and cross-sectoral cooperation within forestry. The need for enhancing forest research has been pointed out in almost all analysed Forest Europe commitments as well as in numerous EU documents.

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