The role of assistance foresters in nonindustrial private forest management: Alabama landowners' perspectives

Abstract

Nonindustrial private forest landowners in Alabama were surveyed and assistance foresters' involvement in their management activities documented. Overall, assistance foresters have participated in some 58% of all forest management activities. Consulting foresters account for 45 to 50% of those activities involving assistance foresters. Public foresters have more small and low income landowners as their clients, and consulting and industry foresters assist more medium and large landowners. The perception of all assistance foresters by the landowners is positive, and reputation is a key to acquire new clients. Respondents also believe that the number of public foresters should stay roughly the same or be increased, and they are evenly divided about paying a fee for services provided by public foresters.