An evidence-based review of timber harvesting behavior among private woodland owners

Abstract

Understanding private woodland owner (PWO) timber harvesting behavior is essential for predicting potential timber supply, as PWOs could be an increasingly important source. This evidence-based review synthesizes more than 100 peer-reviewed articles, government reports, and dissertations from 1970 to 2014 from North America and Europe. Our broad research question was “To what extent is actual PWO timber harvesting behavior understood?” Our objectives were to (1) identify how past research analyzed actual harvesting behavior, (2) describe the evolution of these methods, (3) determine the extent to which previous research linked landowners’ stated intentions to actual harvesting behavior, and (4) evaluate the significant predictors of PWO timber harvesting. This evidence-based review found that parcel size, harvest price, and distance from residence were the most common significant predictors of harvesting intention. Many studies purportedly studied behavior, but most measure stated attitudes without measuring observable harvesting behaviors. A better understanding of PWO behavior will inform timber supply prediction and support forest management outreach.