An economic analysis of landowner propensity for woodlot management and harvesting in northwestern Saskatchewan

Abstract

The recent development of new processing facilities in Meadow Lake, Saskatchewan has created a long-term market for timber in the region. Although these processing facilities are currently supplied by crown timber reserves, increasing pressure on public forest resources from multiple users has caused processors to consider private woodlots as a supplemental source of fibre. A survey was undertaken to investigate conditions under which landowners may respond to the emerging demand by managing their timber resources for harvest and sale. Survey results indicate that approximately half of those interviewed would consider timber management and harvesting in the future. Logit analysis identified landowner characteristics that were related to landowners' willingness to consider forest management and harvest in the future and the likelihood that they would consider a timber contract. -from Authors