Continued forest parcelization creates significant barriers to forest landowners seeking to manage their forests for ecological and economic benefit. Such parcelization also hampers the ability of public agencies to provide technical assistance and education to landowners. In this research and extension project, we define and categorize small-scale forest ownerships through an analysis of practice data. Second, we model the intentions and behaviors of landowners in completing forestry practices using relevant theory. Third, we design, deliver, and evaluate a targeted, just-in-time extension program to increase the likelihood that landowners will complete prescribed forestry practices. Lastly, we develop and disseminate policy and practice recommendations within the region that reduce the negative effects of scale on landowners of small- and medium-scale forest parcels.
ApproachOur research and extension approach requires a significant partnership with a standing stakeholder team, Wisconsin's statewide Land Use and Forest ownership Team ('land use team'). Five broad tasks define this project's scope of work.
Task 1: Define a first-approximation scale classification scheme. Previous research from Wisconsin suggests that the mean timber sale in the state is approximately 65 ac. in size and that timber sales smaller than 20 ac. may be less marketable than larger ones. We will develop a more precise scale classification system in two steps. First, we will develop a first approximation to classify forest ownerships as small-, medium-, and operational scale. Second, we will use actual sale and practice information obtained via our phone survey to refine the classification scheme. Regression models will be used to relate volume to the area harvested.
Task 2: Conduct forest landowner survey. We will survey a stratified random sample of 3,000 landowners with upcoming (i.e., in the next 3 years) Managed Forest Law (MFL) practices. Our sample will be stratified by practice (e.g., mandatory timber harvest vs. recommended thinning) and operational scale. The sample will be drawn from DNR's database of MFL participants that includes all needed contact information. We expect a high response (>70%) given past survey work with landowners, but will complete a non-response check using an abbreviated questionnaire administered by telephone to determine the generalizability of our results. Structural regression modeling will be used to model the theoretical relationships between behavioral attitudes, social norms, perceived behavioral control, operational scale, and intentions (i.e., Theory of Planned Behavior) (Figure 1).
Figure 1: The Theory of Planned Behavior seeks to explain intention and behavior through an actor's attitudes, social norms, perceived behavioral control (adapted from Armitage & Christian. 2004. Planned behavior: The relationship between human thought and action. Transaction Publications: New Brunswick, NJ).
Task 3: Design and deliver an extension program. Working with the land use team, we will design a just-in-time extension program to inform landowners of the potential issues related with forest management on small- and medium-scale ownerships and identify some ways they might overcome them. These materials will be sent to one-half of the landowners who respond to our questionnaire (Task 1) in January of the year in which a recommended or mandatory practice is scheduled. The other half of landowners will serve as a control group (i.e., without treatment). We will evaluate the impact of this program under Task 4 below.
Task 4: Conduct follow-up interviews/evaluation This task collects data that finalize the analyses began above as they determine the completion status of mandatory and recommended practices and evaluate the extension program. To complete this task, we will conduct follow-up phone interviews with 600 survey respondents one year after completing the survey. These data will be used to refine our scale categories, analyze behavior using TPB, and evaluate the extension program.
Task 5: Broadly share findings through a statewide Extension program Working with the land use team and other interested stakeholders, we will host a major regional extension event to build knowledge and understanding of the opportunities and challenges associated with smaller forest ownerships.
Expected Outcomes- Determine the extent to which TPB and the integration of economic factors (i.e., operational scale), is applicable to landowners of small- and medium-scale forests. Given the non-economic motivation of most landowners, assessing the validity and value of other theoretical models is warranted.
- Specify policy and practice recommendations toward addressing scale-related challenges in owning and managing small- and medium-scale forests.
- Develop and evaluate the specific impact of an extension program directly linked to operational constraints faced by landowners of small- and medium-scale forests.
- Initiate a broad, regional discussion of small- and medium-scale forests and the opportunities and challenges they present. Continued parcelization is a reality of forestry today and into the future. Hence, ongoing dialogue and continued research are required.
As these outcomes are realized, we will post results.
