Thesis (M.A.) - Simon Fraser University, 2005. / Theses (Dept. of Geography) / Simon Fraser University. Also issued in digital format and available on the World Wide Web.

The independent operators (IOs) are small forest operators with timber allocation volumes in Saskatchewan under 20,000 m³. Due to their scale, this group is characterized by above- average industry wood procurement and transaction costs. In the past, IO’s above average costs were compensated by above average market prices for the products they produce and limited competition. In recent years, increased competition confounded by low demand and low prices, as well as rapidly increasing operating costs have made it necessary for IOs to restructure operations to reduce costs and increase competitiveness. This thesis investigates the benefits of restructuring IOs using a cooperative business model to help reduce costs, eliminate competitive inefficiencies within the industry, and create economies of scope in IO fibre procurement activities and fibre utilization. Within the literature review, numerous cooperative models used in the forest and agriculture industries and the advantages and disadvantages associated with each cooperative type are explored. Next, the potential economic benefits of restructuring IOs under the new generation cooperative model are examined using a comparative economic analysis of the business as usual fibre procurement cost model and IO NGC fibre procurement cost model derived within this study. Data obtained from an IO case study and interviews with IO industry representatives is fitted to the models to generate fibre procurement cost data for each model. The resulting fibre procurement cost values for each model are then compared and further examined using sensitivity and breakeven analysis. The results of this analysis reveal that the new generation cooperative model has the potential to provide significant economic benefits to IOs through the creation of economies of scope in harvesting costs, but has little effect on the six other costs that make are included in fibre procurement costs. The analysis also reveals that so long as the NGC consist of IOs that require both large and small diameter fibre, the IO NGC has the potential to provide significant economies of scope in fibre utilization.

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 policy brief aims to propose options to narrow the wood supply and demand gap through a critical scenario analysis at the national level, complemented with wood value chain analysis that reflects the on-the-ground realities. Limited access to credit services, complicated bureaucratic processes, insecure land tenure, and the dominant influence of government forestry enterprises in the wood value chain are among the key constraints to augmenting the national wood supply. The government needs to remove some of the complicated bureaucratic land acquisition processes to ensure tenure security for private investors, small- and medium-sized wood producers. Wood import substitution with locally produced wood products can reduce government spending, while promoting local industrialization, innovation, and job creation. Cross-sectoral collaboration among government departments and the need to extend the participation of small- and medium-scale wood producers beyond wood production to wood processing and marketing activities is crucial to upscale the wood supply. This policy brief is intended for forest and natural-resource policymakers, wood industrial sector, non-governmental organizations, and academia dealing with the forestry and wood sector in Ethiopia.:Key Messages: Page 1 Introduction: Page 2 Project methods: Page 2 National wood product supply scenarios: Page 3 Wood value chain: Page 4 Policy implications and recommendations: Page 5 Contact: Page 6

Based on recent estimates, the average demand for wood at 1.39 m3/year/capita surpasses the average annual allowable cut at 0.95 m3/year/capita. The annual wood supply deficit in Tanzania is estimated to be 19.5 million m3. Underlying causes for the wood supply gap include: weak value chains that undermine market access, unsustainable wood production, and harvesting practices. Policies targeted at strengthening the institutional capacity of the forestry sector at local and national levels are suggested to increase the share contribution of the sector to the national economy. To foster small-scale wood production, government needs to expedite efforts in tenure security, and make financial services, extension services, and market information accessible to farmers. Continuous collaboration between the government and actors in the wood value chain is crucial. This policy brief is intended for forest and natural-resource policymakers, wood industrial sector, non-governmental organizations, and academia dealing with the forestry and wood sector in Tanzania.:Key Messages: Page 1 Prevailing challenges: Page 2 Project methods: Page 2 National wood scenarios: Page 3 Wood value chain: Page 4 Policy actions and recommendations to achieve a sustainably wood supply: Page 5 Contact: Page 6

Urbanization, changing forest landowner values, and restructuring forest industry are creating challenges for the active management of small parcels of forestland. Many traditional service providers are reluctant to service small acreage parcels due to economies of scale, shrinking profit margins for unprocessed stumpage, and changing landowner expectations. They do not understand traditional forestry operations and do not know where to look for service providers. A gap in our nation's forest system has emerged. A new market opportunity exists for service providers willing to work with small-scale forest landowners. In this study, over sixty forest service providers working with small acreage or amenity oriented clients were interviewed to determine how their business is structured, how they charge for the services they provide, what reactions they get from their clients, and how successful they perceive themselves to be. Informants came from a wide variety of professional backgrounds, including forestry, logging, arboriculture, landscaping, and woodworking. In addition, about 20 public-forest professionals were interviewed to determine how they and their programs are changing in response to emerging conditions. Successful service providers generally charge by some measure of time and materials rather than by commission. They exhibit a willingness to diversify their business to offer a bundle of services, and to cooperate with professionals in related industries. Value-added processing and creative marketing assist service providers in achieving a profit from small-scale tracts with traditionally low-value products. Lessons learned from these early adopters will assist other service providers interested in working with small acreage private landowners. / Master of Science

<p>Frivilliga avsättningar av skog med höga naturvärden är en viktig del för att nå Miljömålet ”Levande skogar”. Det finns dock tveksamheter om de naturvårdsbiologiska kvalitéerna i dessa avsättningar. Syftet med denna studie var därför att undersöka om den skog som avsätts frivilligt av privata skogsägare är den skogsmark som har de högsta naturvärdena på fastigheten. Vidare studerades också markägarens naturvårdskunnande, utbildningsnivå och attityd till naturvård. Detta kan påverka viljan att avsätta skog frivilligt, hur långsiktig avsättningen blir samt kvalitén på avsättningarna. Studien består av inventeringar på sex skogsfastigheter i Östergötland med frivilliga avsättningar, samt en enkätstudie till skogsägare. Det visade sig att skogsägarna i huvudsak avsatte de bestånd med högst naturvärde på fastigheten. Tre bestånd (en lövskog, en tallskog samt en källmiljö) av totalt 59 hyste högre naturvärde än de frivilligt avsatta. De avsatta skogarnas hade lägre virkestäthet än produktionsbestånden och bestod i större utsträckning av lövskog. Majoriteten av skogsägarna avsatte skogen långsiktigt för kommande generationer. När skogsägarna fick rangordna syftet med sin skogsfastighet prioriterades virke i första hand, naturvård värderades betydligt lägre. En mätning av kunskaper i tillämpad ekologi och artkännedom visade att skogsägarnas kunskaper i regel var bristfälliga när det gällde igenkänning av indikatorarter samt viktiga trädslag för artbevarande. Majoriteten av de som var negativa till att göra frivilliga avsättningar kunde tänka sig att ändra åsikt vid ”skälig ersättning”. Mer omfattande studier behövs för att avgöra om mina resultat var representativa och om de frivilliga avsättningarna verkligen hyser fastighetens högsta naturvärden och lever upp till miljömålet levande skogar.</p> / <p>Voluntarily protected forests with high nature conservation value are an important part of fulfilling the environmental objective "Sustainableforests". The aim of this study was to evaluate if the voluntarily protected forests are those with the highest conservation value for threatened species¹ on the estate. Another purpose was to investigate the knowledge in applied ecology among small-scale foresters, their educational level and attitudes towards conservation. The study contains inventories at six different estates in the county of Östergötland and a query targeted to small-scale forest owners. The foresters in my study set aside the areas with the highest conservation values on the estate with few exceptions. Three areas (one deciduous forest, one pine forest and a well) out of 59 had a higher conservation value than the areas set aside voluntarily. The voluntarily protected forests had less timber density than the productive areas and contained more deciduous forest. A majority of the foresters voluntarily protected forests where intended to remain for future generations. As part of my study the foresters also got to rank the purpose of the forest estate. Timber got the highest rank while nature conservation got a considerable lower rank. A measurement of the small-scale forester's knowledge in applied ecology and indicator species showed that their knowledge often was inadequate regarding indicator species. A majority of those negative to voluntary forest conservation areas on their own estate were willing to change view if they were given adequate economic compensation.</p><p>1 according to the Swedish Red list</p>

Frivilliga avsättningar av skog med höga naturvärden är en viktig del för att nå Miljömålet ”Levande skogar”. Det finns dock tveksamheter om de naturvårdsbiologiska kvalitéerna i dessa avsättningar. Syftet med denna studie var därför att undersöka om den skog som avsätts frivilligt av privata skogsägare är den skogsmark som har de högsta naturvärdena på fastigheten. Vidare studerades också markägarens naturvårdskunnande, utbildningsnivå och attityd till naturvård. Detta kan påverka viljan att avsätta skog frivilligt, hur långsiktig avsättningen blir samt kvalitén på avsättningarna. Studien består av inventeringar på sex skogsfastigheter i Östergötland med frivilliga avsättningar, samt en enkätstudie till skogsägare. Det visade sig att skogsägarna i huvudsak avsatte de bestånd med högst naturvärde på fastigheten. Tre bestånd (en lövskog, en tallskog samt en källmiljö) av totalt 59 hyste högre naturvärde än de frivilligt avsatta. De avsatta skogarnas hade lägre virkestäthet än produktionsbestånden och bestod i större utsträckning av lövskog. Majoriteten av skogsägarna avsatte skogen långsiktigt för kommande generationer. När skogsägarna fick rangordna syftet med sin skogsfastighet prioriterades virke i första hand, naturvård värderades betydligt lägre. En mätning av kunskaper i tillämpad ekologi och artkännedom visade att skogsägarnas kunskaper i regel var bristfälliga när det gällde igenkänning av indikatorarter samt viktiga trädslag för artbevarande. Majoriteten av de som var negativa till att göra frivilliga avsättningar kunde tänka sig att ändra åsikt vid ”skälig ersättning”. Mer omfattande studier behövs för att avgöra om mina resultat var representativa och om de frivilliga avsättningarna verkligen hyser fastighetens högsta naturvärden och lever upp till miljömålet levande skogar. / Voluntarily protected forests with high nature conservation value are an important part of fulfilling the environmental objective "Sustainableforests". The aim of this study was to evaluate if the voluntarily protected forests are those with the highest conservation value for threatened species1 on the estate. Another purpose was to investigate the knowledge in applied ecology among small-scale foresters, their educational level and attitudes towards conservation. The study contains inventories at six different estates in the county of Östergötland and a query targeted to small-scale forest owners. The foresters in my study set aside the areas with the highest conservation values on the estate with few exceptions. Three areas (one deciduous forest, one pine forest and a well) out of 59 had a higher conservation value than the areas set aside voluntarily. The voluntarily protected forests had less timber density than the productive areas and contained more deciduous forest. A majority of the foresters voluntarily protected forests where intended to remain for future generations. As part of my study the foresters also got to rank the purpose of the forest estate. Timber got the highest rank while nature conservation got a considerable lower rank. A measurement of the small-scale forester's knowledge in applied ecology and indicator species showed that their knowledge often was inadequate regarding indicator species. A majority of those negative to voluntary forest conservation areas on their own estate were willing to change view if they were given adequate economic compensation. 1 according to the Swedish Red list

Miljömålet Levande skogar talar om frivilliga avsättningar som en viktig del i arbetet med att bevara skogens möjlighet att bidra med allt vad både människor och andra organismer behöver av skogen. Det är viktigt att frivilliga avsättningar genomförs, men de genomförs enbart om den som äger skog vet vad en frivillig avsättning är.Denna studie har undersökt andelen frivilliga avsättningar inom småskogsbruket i Östersunds kommun, om det finns någon skillnad i avsättningsgrad hos kvinnliga respektive manliga skogsfastighetsägare samt hur stor del av de tillfrågade som vet vad frivilliga avsättningar är. Detta för att kunna bidra med insikt i hur dagens informationsflöden kring frivilliga avsättningar ser ut.Studien bygger på en kvantitativ undersökningsmetod, där respondenter under telefonintervjuer svarat på ett antal ja- och nej-frågor rörande vetskap om frivilliga avsättningar samt avsättningsgrad inom respektive respondents skogsfastighet.Resultaten av undersökningen av den totala andelen frivilliga avsättningar har jämförts med vilken information som utgått till de som förväntas genomföra dessa avsättningar. Därefter har en analys av underskottet i genomförande av frivilliga avsättningar genomförts utifrån de informationsflöden som identifierats under studien. Studien har därutöver undersökt hur stort genomslag informationen om frivilliga avsättningar haft, genom att undersöka graden av vetskap kring frivilliga avsättningar bland fastighetsägare.Studien har kommit till slutsatsen att avsättningsgraden i det geografiska området studien behandlar ligger i på samma nivå som tidigare studier visar för Jämtland, men lägre än riket som helhet. Studien nådde också slutsatsen att det kontinuerligt utgår relativt stora mängder information gällande frivilliga avsättningar, men att dagens information inte fungerar då enbart 30 % av de undersökta fastighetsägarna har kunskaper om vad frivilliga avsättningar är. / The Swedish national environmental goal Sustainable forests suggests voluntary forest set-asides as an important part of preserving the ability of the forest to provide what humans and other organisms need from the forest. It is crucial that voluntary forest set-asides are implemented, but this can only happen if those who own the forests know about the term of voluntary forest set-asides.In this study, the small-scale forestry within Östersund municipality has been examined in relation to the share of voluntary forest set-asides, if; and to what extent, there is a difference in share of voluntary forest set-asides in forest properties controlled by female and male owners and lastly to what degree the respondents know what voluntary forest set-asides are. This in order to contribute with insight into the flows of information regarding voluntary forest set-asides.The study is based on a quantitative research method, in which the respondents during telephone interviews was asked a series of Yes- and No-questions concerning the level of knowledge in the area of voluntary forest set-asides and the rate of voluntary forest set-asides for each forest property.The result of the inquiry of the total share of voluntary forest set-asides was later compared to the information that has been distributed to those who are expected to voluntarily refrain from use of a part of their land. Thereafter, an analysis of the implementation deficit and the identified information flows was conducted. Finally, the study has examined how big of an impact the information of voluntary forest set-asides has had, by examination of the rate of knowledge of voluntary forest set-asides among the property owners.The study can conclude that the share of voluntary forest set-asides in the examined area is in line with what other studies conclude for the county of Jämtland, but lower than for the nation as a whole. The study also reached the conclusion that the flow of information is continuous and rather vast, when it comes voluntary forest set-asides, but that the current information does not work since only 30 % of the property owners have got enough knowledge of the concept of voluntary forest set-asides. / <p>2018-06-08</p>