Landowner and manager awareness and perceptions of pine health issues and southern pine management activities in the Southeastern United States

Abstract

We assessed awareness and perceptions of forest landowners and managers in the southeastern United States regarding their stand health especially under the context of the southern pine decline (SPD) phenomenon. E-mail and paper surveys were sent to 4,670 forest landowners and managers in Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina with an overall response rate of 28%. About half (51%) of respondents reported having healthy and symptom-free pine stands, and only 11% reported elevated levels of dying pine or pine mortality within the last year. Few (<30%) respondents were aware of SPD. Insects, disease, and drought were perceived as the most important threats to pine health. Respondents usually used material from state agencies, professional speakers, or research publications for information regarding pine stand management. Data indicate a favorable outlook for pine health in the southeastern United States, as landowners were engaged and willing to use recognized management prescriptions.