Epsilon Archive for Student Projects

Abstract

Approximately one-fourth of the non-industrial private forestland (NIPF) owners in the state of
Michigan, who collectively own approximately 50% of the private forested land, have
conducted commercial timber harvest in recent years. Previous studies indicated that NIPFs
preferred to manage their forest for a sustained yield of high-quality timber, but were limited to
even-aged regeneration treatments or conversion for uneven-aged silviculture due to previous
cuttings. Improved knowledge about NIPF’s intentions and forest management behavior could
be useful for successful implementation of sustained yield management. This study’s objective
is to identify attitudes of more active NIPFs towards timber management, their forest
management practices and whether their forest management behavior leads to management for
sustained yield. Phone interviews of 30 NIPFs who have experience with commercial timber
harvests were conducted between August and October 2011. All interviews were recorded,
transcribed, and analyzed for identifying NIPF’s motivations, attitudes, forest management
behavior and forestry related knowledge. Results indicate that interviewees, whether
consciously or not, tended to manage their land for a sustained yield and they would be willing
to harvest timber for biofuels facility as long as it benefits landowners management goals. Due
to small sample of interviewees this study is not aiming for quantitative analysis and
conclusion. Collected qualitative information can be used to design further questionnaires and
surveys.