Family forest landowners’ decision-making about reforestation and timber salvaging post hurricane

Reforestation is critical to maintaining ecosystem functions and socio-economic benefits, particularly after extreme disturbances such as hurricanes. This study assessed the management efforts of family forest landowners in the Panhandle, Florida following the devastating impacts of Hurricane Michae...

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Main Authors: Mysha Clarke, Taylor Stein, Ajay Sharma, Jason Vogel, Jarek Nowak
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-06-01
Series:Trees, Forests and People
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666719325000408
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author Mysha Clarke
Taylor Stein
Ajay Sharma
Jason Vogel
Jarek Nowak
author_facet Mysha Clarke
Taylor Stein
Ajay Sharma
Jason Vogel
Jarek Nowak
author_sort Mysha Clarke
collection DOAJ
description Reforestation is critical to maintaining ecosystem functions and socio-economic benefits, particularly after extreme disturbances such as hurricanes. This study assessed the management efforts of family forest landowners in the Panhandle, Florida following the devastating impacts of Hurricane Michael (2018). We mailed a survey to 1,000 randomly selected landowners impacted by Hurricane Michael to examine 1) their reforestation and timber salvaging plans, 2) their ownership and management plans and 3) the impacts of the novel Florida Timber Recovery Block Grant (TRBG) program on forest management including any significant differences between landowners who did and did not apply for the program. We found that family forest landowners who were members of environmental or woodland owners’ organizations, had written forest management plans, had larger forest lands, or owned their forest lands for timber products were more likely to engage in reforestation. Landowners who applied for the TRBG funding were more likely to have salvage harvested timber and indicated plans to reforest their lands in the future, in comparison to those who did not apply for the grant. Our study provides insights on policy that can support family forest landowners to reforest their lands, primarily highlighting that although financial assistance is invaluable, these support programs should be thoughtfully implemented to increase landowner accessibility.
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spelling doaj-art-36a3ae8e82bd41ddbbcac6cc0306fbf72025-08-20T02:10:58ZengElsevierTrees, Forests and People2666-71932025-06-012010081210.1016/j.tfp.2025.100812Family forest landowners’ decision-making about reforestation and timber salvaging post hurricaneMysha Clarke0Taylor Stein1Ajay Sharma2Jason Vogel3Jarek Nowak4School of Forest, Fisheries and Geomatic Sciences, University of Florida, United States; Corresponding author.School of Forest, Fisheries and Geomatic Sciences, University of Florida, United StatesCollege of Forestry, Wildlife and Environment, Auburn University, United StatesSchool of Forest, Fisheries and Geomatic Sciences, University of Florida, United StatesFlorida Forest Service, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, United StatesReforestation is critical to maintaining ecosystem functions and socio-economic benefits, particularly after extreme disturbances such as hurricanes. This study assessed the management efforts of family forest landowners in the Panhandle, Florida following the devastating impacts of Hurricane Michael (2018). We mailed a survey to 1,000 randomly selected landowners impacted by Hurricane Michael to examine 1) their reforestation and timber salvaging plans, 2) their ownership and management plans and 3) the impacts of the novel Florida Timber Recovery Block Grant (TRBG) program on forest management including any significant differences between landowners who did and did not apply for the program. We found that family forest landowners who were members of environmental or woodland owners’ organizations, had written forest management plans, had larger forest lands, or owned their forest lands for timber products were more likely to engage in reforestation. Landowners who applied for the TRBG funding were more likely to have salvage harvested timber and indicated plans to reforest their lands in the future, in comparison to those who did not apply for the grant. Our study provides insights on policy that can support family forest landowners to reforest their lands, primarily highlighting that although financial assistance is invaluable, these support programs should be thoughtfully implemented to increase landowner accessibility.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666719325000408Forest restorationDisastersRisksNon-industrial forest landownersFamily forest landownersPrivate forest owners
spellingShingle Mysha Clarke
Taylor Stein
Ajay Sharma
Jason Vogel
Jarek Nowak
Family forest landowners’ decision-making about reforestation and timber salvaging post hurricane
Trees, Forests and People
Forest restoration
Disasters
Risks
Non-industrial forest landowners
Family forest landowners
Private forest owners
title Family forest landowners’ decision-making about reforestation and timber salvaging post hurricane
title_full Family forest landowners’ decision-making about reforestation and timber salvaging post hurricane
title_fullStr Family forest landowners’ decision-making about reforestation and timber salvaging post hurricane
title_full_unstemmed Family forest landowners’ decision-making about reforestation and timber salvaging post hurricane
title_short Family forest landowners’ decision-making about reforestation and timber salvaging post hurricane
title_sort family forest landowners decision making about reforestation and timber salvaging post hurricane
topic Forest restoration
Disasters
Risks
Non-industrial forest landowners
Family forest landowners
Private forest owners
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666719325000408
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AT jasonvogel familyforestlandownersdecisionmakingaboutreforestationandtimbersalvagingposthurricane
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