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ABSTRACT
Decision-making processes that private forest landowners (PFLs) engage when planning for their forestland’s future are not well understood. The forest ecosystem and the people who depend on its services face several critical challenges, including how to sustainably manage an increasingly parcelized forest. The Theory of Planned Behavior has been used to illuminate connections among constructs informing PFL behavior, but fails to adequately capture the complexities of forest owners’ lived experiences and how those inform behaviors. In-depth interviews provide a deeper understanding of how Pennsylvania PFLs make decisions concerning ownership succession. We approached those who recently subdivided, sold/donated conservation easements, or had not committed to any plan and asked them to tell us about their planning experiences. Relationships among family members and the quality of their communication about the land and succession emerged as important factors in the planning process. Implications for theory, forest planning, education and outreach, and further study are advanced.
Acknowledgments
A special thank you to the forest landowners we spoke with who made this research possible and were incredibly generous with their time and experience. We also acknowledge the efforts of our reviewers. Their engagement in the review process added clarity and value to this article.
Notes
The majority of woodland in Pennsylvania is held in parcels representing this size range.
Interviews with district foresters, county planners, township supervisors, and long-term residents were held in each county to understand land-use patterns and residents’ concerns (see Gruver 2010).