Plain Language Summary: Understanding private forest owners with small parcels and, thus, strengthening conservation.

By Malin Tiebel, Andreas Mölder, Claudia Bieling, Peter Hansen, and Tobias Plieninger.

Read the full paper here.

Society puts many demands on forests, ranging from recreation over biodiversity conservation to resource use. In Europe, private forest owners often possess small parcels, but they are an important ownership group that is rarely directly addressed. Our study analyzes objectives, perspectives, and characteristics of small-scale private forest owners in Germany. We differentiate between different groups of owners to understand the differences and similarities. Based on this, we recommend strategies to strengthen conservation within multi-functional forest management.

We gained our insights by sending a survey to small-scale private forest owners in northwest Germany and received 1,656 usable replies (response rate: 39,8 %). Among others, respondents were asked to report their forest management activities. This was the basis for a process called “clustering” which gave us three groups of private forest owners to compare.

While all groups perceive nature conservation as important, their forest management activities differ. Our first group is called “multiple-use-oriented forest owners” (45 % of all respondents). They are most active, also in terms of conservation measures. The second group, “conservation-oriented owners” (25 %) focuses on passive conservation measures, while “conventional owners” (30 %) show only a little engagement with conservation-related activities. Despite the differences, we identified common instruments which are able to support conservation activities. They include on-site consultation, information about legal regulations, and financial incentives.

In the last step, we provide recommendations on strengthening conservation within multi-functional management of small-scale private forests. The most effective strategies are to change the way society communicates about forests, to account for the diversity among private forest owners, to provide space for the uncertainty related to climate change, and to adapt measures to local contexts. Furthermore, the private forest owners’ awareness, knowledge, and interest in forests and their conservation should be increased. Policy strategies should account for the wish of forest owners to maintain control of their stands.

Small-scale private forests face diverse challenges related to climate change, biodiversity loss, and societal demands. A transformative change to current policy approaches and a stronger consideration of this ownership type is urgently needed.