Outcomes of a Comprehensive Forest Landowner Extension Program

Abstract

Forestry in South Carolina has an annual economic impact of $23 billion and provides over 100,000 jobs statewide. Approximately 87% of forest lands in South Carolina is privately owned and faces shifts in ownership and management practices that may impact forest health. We conducted a bus tour that demonstrated the entire life cycle of a loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) forest from final harvest through forest maturity. The bus tour was aimed at increasing landowner knowledge and influencing the likelihood that they will implement forest management practices. An evaluation using multiple methods was conducted to determine whether the bus tour achieved its objectives. Qualitative and quantitative data converged to show that the forest management bus tour appeared to have been effective in increasing forest landowner knowledge and intent to implement forest management practices, thus potentially increasing forest health across the state. Study Implications: Despite extensive knowledge that is readily available to forest landowners, many landowners are still reluctant to implement forest management practices that lead to improved forest health. With over 87% of forest lands in South Carolina in private ownership, it is imperative to educate and encourage forest landowners to implement forest management practices that can help increase forest health. The outcome of a multiple methods evaluation of a forest management bus tour to educate landowners suggests that showing forest landowners management practices on the ground and explaining the associated terminology is likely to increase the adoption of forest management practices.