Conservation , Cost , and Income : New Zealand Farmers ’ Values in Forest Management

A postal survey of 1435 farm owners with 50 ha or more of indigenous forest was conducted in June-August 2002. Thirty-eight percent of farmers responded. Collectively they owned approximately 92,000 ha of forest. By far the most important uses of their forests were nonconsumptive; that is, as a home for bird life, forest protection for the benefit of future generations, aesthetic qualities, and erosion control. Environmental benefits ranked first in terms of farmers’ forest management goals, followed by economic, social and cultural benefits. Farmers believed that environmental values and benefits should be the highest priority for the management of indigenous forest on private land in New Zealand. Asked to indicate how they would respond to a theoretical commercial proposal for sustainable harvesting, only a third said they would go with the proposal, while almost half chose continued reservation of their forests. Only 28% received any income from their indigenous forests, while 42% reported direct outlay associated with forests. Eighteen percent had some long –term protection arrangements for their forests, and 93% had conducted pest animal control. The results of this survey compared with a more localised survey 10 years earlier suggest a shift in farmers’ values for forests away from the utilitarian and toward a more naturalistic appreciation.