Private forest policy tools: A national survey exploring the American publicʹs perceptions and support

This research examines the general publicʹs perceptions of policy tools for private forests and examines the relationships between policy support and individual demographic characteristics, as well as timber harvesting attitudes. Empirical data were collected through a random digital dial telephone survey of United States residents in 2003 and 2004. Factor and reliability analyses were used to define a private forest policy tool scale containing two distinct policy tools—authority (regulations, sanctions, and incentives) and empowerment (learning, capacity-building, symbolic, and incentive) tools. Overall, the public held neutral attitudes towards authority tools and supported empowerment tools. Of all the demographic characteristics examined in this research, general linear modeling indicated that only education significantly predicted support for authority and empowerment tools. Timber harvesting attitudes were effective predictors of empowerment tools; in general, support for timber harvesting for present benefits was negatively related to support for private forest policy tools. Implications for private forestland policy are presented.