Browsing by Subject "suunnitellun"

The aim of this study was to find out Metsäliitto cooperative member’s objectives, attitudes, and intentions in peatland forest management. Theory of planned behavior and attitude theory of Allport were applied to formulate the questionnaire and in the theoretical background of this study. The survey data was collected with a web-based questionnaire. The survey was sent to 5000 Metsäliitto cooperative members and 905 of them responded. The response rate was therefore about 18. The response data was analyzed with factor analysis, linear regression analysis and analysis of variance. Statistical testing was done with t-test, Kurskall-Wallis test, and Mann U Whitney test. Additionally averages, percentages, and standard deviations were used to examine the data. About 30 % of respondents intended to implement continuous cover forestry, fertilization and restoration ditching in their own peatland forests. Even 60 % of respondents intended to implement other logging in their peatland forests during the next five years. Multiple objectives were important to members in peatland forest management. Economic and wood production objectives were the most important ownership goals of respondents. Attitudes towards forest management methods were mostly neutral or positive. Clearcutting and restoration received the most negative attitudes. Attitudes towards continuous cover forestry were significantly more positive than towards clearcutting on peatlands. The main hindering factors reported for implementation of continuous cover forestry were technical issues related to harvesting and different economic factors. The theory of planned behavior explained well the behavioral intentions of members to implement continuous cover forestry. The decision making of non-industrial private forest owners is a complex and multidimensional phenomenon. The ownership structure of Finnish private forest owner’s and therefore Metsäliitto cooperative members will continue to change especially during the following decades. For this reason, it is necessary to continue the research into Finnish private forest owners and their decision-making processes.