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Abstract
Based on the reasoning that contextual variations are important for understanding differences in forest cognitions, this study examined forest values and management attitudes in the general public in Germany (n = 1135) and Sweden (n = 1311) by means of a questionnaire. Results indicated that the public in both countries emphasised similar forest values, and the overall pattern was comparable for different types of forest, although certain differences based on forest type and country were evident. For example, the German public was more ecologically oriented, whereas the Swedish public was more production oriented in its forest values and management attitudes. Furthermore, ecological and various anthropocentric forest values were perceived to be quite compatible, with the Swedish respondents perceiving this to a greater extent than the German. The overall cognitive structure of forest values and management attitudes was similar in both countries, although differences were revealed, particularly regarding attitudes.
Acknowledgements
This research was funded by Future Forests, a multidisciplinary research programme, and its sponsors: the Foundation for Strategic Environmental Research (Mistra), the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Umeå University, the Forestry Research Institute of Sweden (Skogforsk) and the forest industry in Sweden. The authors are thankful for the helpful comments provided by four anonymous reviewers.
Notes
1. Close to nature forest management principles suggest that human action should accelerate, not substitute, natural processes when striving for healthy forest systems that produce wood and other services such as biodiversity.
2. Complete results of the PCAs, including pattern loadings for all items in the four component solutions, are available from the authors upon request.