Small-scale private forest owners are the backbone of Europe’s diverse forest landscapes. Their management not only shapes the forests’ ecological health but also delivers crucial benefits to society, from carbon storage and biodiversity conservation to recreation and wood production. However, understanding the motivations, challenges, and aspirations of these forest owners is critical for ensuring the sustainable management of European forests. That’s where the Small4Good project comes in. With a survey directed at small-scale forest owners across Europe, aiming to identify their challenges and motivations and enable them to unfold the potential small-scale forest owners have for our forests.
The purpose of the questionnaire is to explore what inspires, motivates, and hinders small-scale private forest owners in managing their forests. The survey seeks to include their voices and uncover the experiences and challenges faced by these crucial stakeholders.
The questionnaire is specifically designed for small-scale private forest owners across Europe. These stakeholders, often balancing personal or family goals with societal expectations, play a pivotal role in shaping multifunctional forests that serve ecological, economic, and cultural purposes. Here the project’s aim is also to diversify the image of who a forest owner might be: They may be urban mushroom pickers or immigrated forest enthusiasts and need different forms of support to follow their own ideas on forest management.
By gathering input from a wide range of forest owners, the survey aims to paint a comprehensive picture of their motivations, goals, and obstacles. This data will help us understand
- What forest owners manage their lands for: Whether it is for income, conservation, or recreation, different management measures are required.
- What challenges they face: Are forest owners hindered by economic barriers, dependent on external sources of information, or constrained by regulations?
- What support they need: From new business models to digital tools and AI solutions, what resources would make forest management more effective and rewarding?
The insights from this survey will guide the Small4Good project in laying the groundwork for the upcoming research tasks. These mainly focus on finding solutions for common challenges small-scale forestry is facing currently. In the next step, the project aims to develop business models, specifically targeted at the management of small patches of forests including non-timber forest products. Furthermore, digital tools based on AI technology will be developed to support the silvicultural management of small forest patches.
The survey is, thus, a crucial step in empowering small-scale private forest owners to manage their forests for multifunctionality. Understanding the motivations and barriers of forest owners is foundational to achieving the objectives of the project, and thus a pathway to more sustainable forest management. By taking part in this survey, forest owners have the possibility to give their voice for European forest management.
