To Join Small-Scale Forest Owners’ Associations or Not? Motivations and Opinions of Small-Scale Forest Owners in Three Selected Regions of the Czech Republic (original) (raw)
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Forest owner’s organizations across Europe: similarities and differences
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This paper reports the results from the case-studies of Subgroup “Forestry Associations” in Working Group 1 of COST Action E30 “Economic integration of urban consumers’ demand and rural forestry production”. The main purpose of this paper is to identify similarities and differences of forest owners’ organizations in a group of countries from Northern, Central and Southern Europe, with very different histories in this matter, in order to come up to some exploratory hypotheses about the supporting and impeding factors of the dynamics of these organizations, throughout their lifetime. The paper should be seen as a first step in the identification of an adequate theoretical framework to explain this dynamics, with no attempt yet to empirical test any hypotheses. The most striking differences are found with regard to the length of the history of forest owners associations, ranging from the long-lasting history of associations in Norway, Finland, Germany and Italy to the relatively short histories in Portugal, Ireland and in most of the East-European countries. By looking at these differences and also at some broad similarities, the main conclusion drawn from these case studies is that an appropriate theoretical framework to analyze the supporting and impeding factors of forest owners’ associations start up and development is one that should combine two kinds of rationalities: “constructivist rationality” which takes into account the role of efficiency factors, and “ecological rationality” which takes into account the role of social norms and political factors.
Motives and Incentives for Joining Forest Owner Associations in Estonia
Small-scale Forestry, 2014
The development of private ownership is an important outcome of structural changes for the whole economy as well as for the forestry sector in Estonia. Cooperation between forest owners has been seen as one possibility for increasing the provision of various forest-related benefits and goods. Yet the extent of cooperation between forest owners is still not at a sufficient level, but the reasons have not been extensively studied. The authors' aim was to find out the key determinants for forest owners to join a forest owner association and to explore how cooperation between owners could be increased. Survey data were used to divide the respondents into two groups according to whether they were members of forest owners associations or not. It was found that one key aspect is the size of the forest property-association members usually manage larger forest areas than nonmembers. In addition, the members tend to be more active and consistent in forest management activities than non-members. Also there is potential towards cooperation within non-members as their plans for the future are much more targeted. Although there are limits to voluntary cooperation, a huge potential for Estonian private forest owners could be realised by diversifying forest owner association activities and services to meet the different expectations of forest owners.
Forest management changes with societal change, and it has been debated if economic development in society places material objectives in a less preferable position: it is assumed this is also the case as regards forest management. The aims of this study were to propose a theoretical model for empirical studies of objectives and motivations within this field and to depict motivations and objectives of small-scale forest owners in Sweden. Comparative literature studies were undertaken and qualitative methodology was used for the empirical studies. Firstly, to depict general trends among forest owners, interviews with professional foresters were conducted. Secondly, forest owners throughout Sweden were interviewed to compare the results of the interviews with the professional foresters on the motivations and objectives of small-scale forest owners. Within the literature, there were no consistent views on the subjective grounds for owning and managing small-scale forest estates. The pro...
Forest Owners Associations in the Central and Eastern
The restitution and privatization in Central and Eastern European countries in the early 1990s predisposed a heterogeneous ownership structure, a large number of forest owners and a variety of types of property ownership modes. Furthermore, development of governance in these countries posited a new framework for interest representation in the forestry sector, mainly through organised forms of private forest owners, i.e. formation of forest owners’ associations (FOAs). In this region, FOAs were one of the opportunities for interest representation in the land restitution processes. Later on these associations gained more competency and importance not only in influencing forest policy-making, but also in offering services to their members. The aim of the paper is to improve the understanding of the origins, evolution and current situation of FOAs in Central and Eastern Europe by describing the factors that influenced the FOAs’ creation and development. On the basis of their similar history seven Central Eastern European countries were selected for FOAs analysis: Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania and Slovakia. The main findings of the study include that FOAs in Eastern and Central Europe, though being the result of the same socio-political changes, differ between countries in terms of their organisational forms. However, they face similar challenges, including the limited motivation of owners to join associations. Also, they undertake similar activities for their successful development, including the pro-vision of information services for their members. Despite not having any legal competence for the direct management of their member’s forests, these FAOs do have strong representative and demonstrative effects in their countries.
Forest Policy and …, 2010
The private forest owners in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia and Serbia are to a large extent not organised in interest organisations although their forests make up between 10% (Macedonia) and 52% (Serbia) of the total forest area. Private forest owners' interests are mainly in the hands of the public forest administration. This situation is not in accordance with democratic political systems. The paper investigates the preconditions for change by scrutinizing prevailing interest group theories by random surveys of private forest owners and in-depth interviews of forest policy decision-makers. As a result of the empirical research it has been found that, in spite of the large number of private forest owners, there are good chances for the formation of private forest owners' interest associations in all four countries, mainly because of the high critical mass of engaged private forest owners and the support of the majority of forest policy decisionmakers.
Explaining participation of private forest owners in economic incentives. Case studies in Europe
2014
Taking part in the implementation of a voluntary policy instrument for land use management implies motivational requirements of the targeted landowner. Increasing knowledge on the potential economic, managerial and attitudinal factors helps design incentives in accordance and facilitates an effective performance. We analyzed surveys and interviews addressed to private forest owners, at country or regional level in five European countries. Participation rates for different schemes aimed at enhancing the provision of ecosystem services were contrasted with a range of landowners’ socio-economic, forest management variables, as well as with the instrument design characteristics. Results show larger participation trends in mechanisms that promote a forest ecosystem service while simultaneously augments benefits enjoyed by the landowner. Being involved in some type of forestry association increases the likelihood of engaging in the policy mechanism, especially for small and medium size la...
Explaining participation of private forest owners in
2014
Taking part in the implementation of a voluntary policy instrument for land use management implies motivational requirements of the targeted landowner. Increasing knowledge on the potential economic, managerial and attitudinal factors helps design incentives in accordance and facilitates an effective performance. We analyzed surveys and interviews addressed to private forest owners, at country or regional level in five European countries. Participation rates for different schemes aimed at enhancing the provision of ecosystem services were contrasted with a range of landowners’ socio-economic, forest management variables, as well as with the instrument design characteristics. Results show larger participation trends in mechanisms that promote a forest ecosystem service while simultaneously augments benefits enjoyed by the landowner. Being involved in some type of forestry association increases the likelihood of engaging in the policy mechanism, especially for small and medium size la...
Forest Owners Associations in the Central and Eastern European Region
The restitution and privatization in Central and Eastern European countries in the early 1990s predisposed a heterogeneous ownership structure, a large number of forest owners and a variety of types of property ownership modes. Furthermore, development of governance in these countries posited a
Taking part in the implementation of a voluntary policy instrument for land use management implies motivational requirements of the targeted landowner. Increasing knowledge on the potential economic, managerial and attitudinal factors helps design incentives in accordance and facilitates an effective performance. We analyzed surveys and interviews addressed to private forest owners, at country or regional level in five European countries. Participation rates for different schemes aimed at enhancing the provision of ecosystem services were contrasted with a range of landowners' socio-economic, forest management variables, as well as with the instrument design characteristics.