Thesis (M.Sc. (Environmental Science)) - Rhodes University, 2007.

Thesis (doctoral)--Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 2004. / Appendix includes reprints of four papers and manuscripts co-authored with others. Also issued electronically via World Wide Web in PDF format.

This study is part of the 'Sustainable Estates for the 21st Century' project, designed to understand how best to manage the relationships between people, place and the economy in the Scottish uplands. Large areas of these uplands are owned by private landowners who make significant decisions on land-use. However, past research has provided little insight into landowner decision-making: it is out-dated, inconsistent and offers limited explanation of underlying motives and priorities. In order to address this, a large-scale structured survey was combined with Q methodology and case study interviews on 11 estates. The results indicate that most private landowners have strong economic priorities, but they are not striving solely for instrumental goals of income or financial security. Those on purchased estates are also motivated by personal ambitions: expressive goals. On inherited estates, landowners are motivated by intrinsic motives: a strong sense of duty and attachment to place. Time and money clearly impact significantly on private landowners' motives and priorities for estate management: • The fundamental priority underpinning estate management is economic; only when the estate is financially secure are other issues considered to any significant extent. • Environmental priorities are most evident on purchased estates without economic constraints. • Lengthy family ownership creates strong ties. An increased sense of duty and commitment to social priorities comes with longevity of tenure. Despite the strength of the underlying economic motivation, most landowners are 'satisficers' trying to balance multiple objectives in order to address the various challenges to sustainability. This was particularly evident on large inherited estates where landowners take a paternalistic role. Consequently, retaining such landowners appears to be an important factor in building resilient communities. Although grants still incentivise many landowners to provide public goods, their contributions to all aspects of sustainability could be better rewarded. Government policy should improve the alignment of landowners' and public goals to achieve long-term sustainability in the uplands.

No description available.

Detailed information about the services and associated fees provided by consulting foresters informs forestland owners about the range of management practices available to them and their related costs. This information also allows consulting foresters to compare their fees and services with others. Mississippi’s consulting foresters completed a survey used to determine what management services they provided to landowners and the related fees for those services in 2012 - 2013. The survey addressed a comprehensive array of management services, aggregated by topic such as forest management, timber sale administration, timber cruising, and other management activities. Summary statistics determine the range of services Mississippi consultants provide and the associated fees. Further analysis determined if consultant characteristics such as years of experience and membership in professional organizations such as the Society of American Foresters and the Association of Consulting Foresters were associated with differences in services offered and fees charged.

When restored to full ecological function, longleaf pine (Pinus palustris) forests are among the most diverse forest ecosystems in the world. For the last several decades, substantial amount of efforts has taken place on public land, comparably less work has been accomplished on private lands towards longleaf pine restoration. The overall goal of this research was to examine the factors influencing the application of prescribed fire for ecological restoration on private land. This research employed both qualitative and quantitative method to explore challenges and opportunities for restoring the ecosystem. The survey examined interest among the forest landowners and general public regarding longleaf pine restoration management using prescribed fire. Key informant interviews examined factors associated with the decision making for the use of prescribed fire. Research findings have implications for designing and implementing policy instruments and improving landowners’ decision regarding processes.

Extension professionals are faced with the challenge of effectively communicating relevant information to an evolving audience with diverse interests. This study utilized mixed methodologies to highlight specific educational programming needs of nonindustrial private forest landowners (NIPFs) in Mississippi. Ten landowner focus groups were conducted during January 2012, followed one year later by the mailing of 3,000 survey questionnaires to Mississippi NIPFs owning 20 or more acres of uncultivated land. Findings indicated NIPFs are more likely to adopt new ideas if educational programming is tailored to their specific needs, indicating the need to group the audience by their interests. In particular, findings showed an increasing need for educational resources, particularly regarding succession management and estate planning. Eighty percent of respondents indicated passing land to heirs was an important or very important reason for land ownership. Results also emphasized the importance of employing new technology as a means for communicating more efficiently.

Private landowners refrain to open their land for recreational users in the fear of potential liability. This study covered the extent of liability, actual bodily injuries and property damages sustained by hunters and anglers in Mississippi. In order to aid for comparison, the study was divided in two sections. First it examined the risk and liability in fee access recreation through the review of court cases from 1904 to 2005. Second study explored the extent of actual bodily injuries and property damages sustained by hunters and anglers in Mississippi during 2002/03 to 2004/05 using telephone survey. It was found that landowners won 68% of the legal cases even though they charged fees for recreational access. The study revealed that 1% respondents of the total sample had accidents and only 16.8% respondents had the liability insurance coverage.

No description available.

Cost-share programs to improve sustainable land and water use are offered from federal, state, and non-governmental entities to non-industrial private (NIP) landowners. Despite the broad attention given to the ecological benefits of these programs, far less attention has been focused on their social impacts and benefits. To achieve the desired environmental objectives laid out within these programs, natural resource agencies must work to maintain high levels of satisfaction and participation among private landowners. The purpose of the study was to examine the attitudes and motivations of participants enrolled in one of three cost-share programs in Mississippi and compare those with the views of natural resource professionals throughout the state regarding landowner attitudes and motivations. Overall, landowners had positive views of their program experiences and the views of natural resource professionals coincided largely with those of landowners.