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Harvard Forest REU Symposium Abstract 2008
- Title: It's the Network: how personal connections shape decisions about private forest use
- Author: Angelica ErazoOliveras (University of Puerto Rico)
- Abstract:
Forested landscapes in Massachusetts are commonly divided and owned by different individuals. The decisions of these landowners play an important role in the future of the land. Decisions like harvesting timber, conservation restrictions or development of the land can determine landscape patterns and change the quality of the land. We expect the relationships that landowners have with neighbors, friends, family, professionals, etc, will influence their decisions and their satisfaction. Personal interviews were used to determine the social network of landowners in the North Quabbin region that have decided to make a conservation restriction on their land (n=18). Using linear regressions we found that relationships between landowners and their close contacts were strongly related to their satisfaction. The more close contacts landowners have the more satisfied they feel about their decisions. Also landowners who had contact with only professionals were more satisfied than those who had contact with professionals and non professionals. The subject’s social network is an essential key at the moment of the decision making because the more informed landowners are the more pleased they’ll be. The results show the importance of information sources like professionals, workshops and books to landowners. In the future, this project may improve information accessibility and professional assistance for landowners.
- Research Category: Conservation and Management
