Energy wood production from private forests – nonindustrial private forest owners׳ perceptions and attitudes in Croatia and Serbia

Private forests in Croatia and Serbia are highly fragmented in small plots with low productivity and owned by a large number of small-scale nonindustrial private forest owners (NIPFs). The study conducted surveys among 232 NIPFs in these two countries to find out their perceptions and attitudes related to energy wood production from their forests. The secondary objective of the study was to provide policy recommendations to the public authorities and professionals in these countries for improving the preconditions for energy wood mobilization from private forests. The study found that the NIPFs perceived underdeveloped market and low price for energy wood, absence of favorable policies, fragmented forests properties, older NIPFs' lack of interests in energy wood production, and difficulties in getting bank loan for energy wood related business activities as barriers against energy wood production from private forests. However, the NIPFs showed positive attitudes towards producing energy wood from their forests and they considered the possibilities of creating new jobs and commercial opportunities as strengths of energy wood production. The NIPFs׳ socio-demographic background had statistically significant relations with their perceptions and attitudes related to energy wood production. The dimensions of the NIPFs׳ perceptions and attitudes related to energy wood production showed two key dimensions – institutionalists and enthusiasts. The variables to explain the NIPFs׳ attitudes to energy wood production were different between the two countries and they indicated the differences in the country level circumstances for energy wood production. The results appeared to be relevant for understanding the issues that the NIPFs perceived as barriers against developing a viable energy wood market in their countries. When new forestry institutions and policies are emerging in these countries, the existing public and private forestry institutions need to play an important role for improving the preconditions for energy wood production from private forests.