Abstract:
Sixty nonindustrial small-forest owners were interviewed in
Lane County, Oregon to determine their objectives for forest lands,
and knowledge of and attitudes toward public assistance in forestry.
Owners were randomly sampled from a preselected size class
of 10 to 200 acres. A formal questionnaire was used to measure
forest land use objectives, opinion of public assistance in forestry,
knowledge of previous assistance programs, and general characteristics
of the owner and his land.
Results indicated that of those land owners sampled, 23 owners
(39 percent) had timber production as a primary goal, or secondary
objective in conjunction with recreation or agricultural uses; 15 owners
(25 percent) considered their forest lands to be inactive, 11
owners (18 percent) wished to sell their forest lands, and another
11 owners had either recreational or agricultural objectives. Size of forest holding, distance from residence, planning horizon, income
and age were found to be significantly related to forest land objectives.
Thirty-four respondents (56 percent) favored public assistance
to forest land owners. Three-fourths of the owners did not know of
such assistance available in the past, or of special tax laws for forest
lands.
Eight owners (12 percent) would accept a long term lease on
ten acres of five year old, stocked lands. Six owners would borrow
money for forestry purposes at interest rates of six percent or below.
It was concluded that sample members were in an older age
class which precluded active forest management, most owners have
little or no interest in silvicultural practices, and that assistance
programs must pay a substantial share of a silvicultural practice and
be well publicized to induce a portion of the owners to engage in timber
production.
