Enskilda skogsägares mål på avdelningsnivå ? en kvalitativ studie
Half of Sweden's productive forest land is owned by individual forest owners. Research studies show that forest owners have more objectives with their forest than a high net present value, and that the suggestions of the forest management plans doesn?t always correspond to
the forest owners? objectives.
Through a qualitative study we conducted a discussion about objectives at stand level with the aim of making a more specific formulation of the forest owners? objectives.
We asked about the forest owners' objectives at stand level, what forest management they conduct in order to achieve the objectives and how this management affects the net present value of the property. Based on the results of the interviews, we analyzed what kind of factors decide where the objectives place themselves in the landscape and if the objectives at stand level are consistent with the overall objectives for the property.
Many forest owners questioned the idea of talking about objectives at stand level, and they didn?t always have their objectives clearly defined. During the discussion, however, we learned about objectives placed in specific stands as well as objectives regarding the entire
property.
In most cases, the forest owners' forest management is consistent with their objectives. The majority don?t realize how much their management may affect the property's net present value.
Based on our analysis, we believe that the objectives? location depends on a combination of the forest condition and where the stand is located.
We think that the overall objective isn?t constant over the entire property and therefore the objectives at stand level are consistent with the overall objectives for the property.
Our conclusion is that it?s possible to conduct a discussion about objectives at stand level. We believe that the formulation of the objectives becomes more specific with this method than when objectives are discussed at property level.