The potential to develop environmental values on privately owned forest land in southern Sweden

ABSTRACT Private forest owners’ management decisions significantly impact the development of forest values in Sweden. This study explored the potential to develop environmental values on privately owned land in southern Sweden. Data were collected through interviews with 23 forest owners and analyzed with semantic content analysis. The interviewees owned estates of productive, predominantly coniferous forest ranging in size from 10–825 ha. They were aged 36–84, and 26% were female. Results showed that there is considerable potential to develop environmental values on private land since 1) Forest owners demonstrated multi-functional views of primarily social and emotional dimensions surrounding forest ownership, and the mindset of combining goals enables many different values to be developed, 2) Desired management showed numerous ideas that could bring a diversity of benefits, and 3) Practical management included various production-favoring measures, but even more for environmental, social, cultural, and emotional purposes that, largely unnoted, bring environmental conservation benefits. All forest owners perceived barriers to management and ownership, categorized primarily to structural or surrounding society factors. Financial incentives, policies encouraging forest owners’ initiatives, an adequate supply of resources and sound management advice are suggested measures to reduce barriers and facilitate the development of environmental values.