Landowner attitudes toward South Carolina's forest stewardship program

Abstract

This study reports on a survey of 78 South Carolina nonindustrial private forest (NIPF) landowners who participated in the Forest Stewardship Program and an additional analysis of all South Carolina participants (n = 1,018) in 1994-1995. Timber production was the most common primary management objective; wildlife management ranked second. Participants were satisfied with the multiple-use emphasis of the program. Once a landowner evaluated the written management plan, timber production tended to increase in importance. The type of natural resource professional that developed the management plan appeared to affect the stated objectives of the NIPF landowner. Consultants and industry foresters tended to work with landowners who had larger acreages, timber management objectives, and previous forest management plans. Ninety-three percent of landowners said their management plan was useful. Another 87% support the concept of multiple-use.