Open Access CAAS Agricultural Journals Journal of Forest Science

The perception of forests by the Czech Republic general public

Hana Krejčí, Marta Stárová, Ivan Hrbek, Miroslava Navrátilová, Markéta Beranová

https://doi.org/10.17221/138/2018-JFSCitation:Krejčí H., Stárová M., Hrbek I., Navrátilová M., Beranová M. (2019): The perception of forests by the Czech Republic general public. J. For. Sci., 65: 226-233.
download PDF

Forests as a part of landscape do not fulfil their economic function (timber production) only but a lot of other non-economic functions, especially ecological ones. Both economic and non-economic functions are indisputable and equally important for society. The aim of this paper is to identify current attitudes to forest perceptions by citizens in the Czech Republic. Primary data were obtained by means of a questionnaire research survey which was carried out in 2018. Altogether 824 respondents took part in this survey (n = 824). From the results follows that approximately 70% of respondents visit forest at least three times a month. In connection with this, the relationship between respondents’ forest visit frequency and the forest density in the region where they come from was confirmed. 60% of respondents consider the forest exploitation and forest management to be the most important cause of damage and threats to forest. In relation to forest, 46% of respondents consider forest conservation and protection to be the most important topics.

Keywords:

forest functions; public opinion; recreational function of forest; damage; threat to forests, forest visitors

References:
Agresti A. (2013): Categorial Data Analysis. Hoboken, John Wiley and Sons: 78.
 
Bethmann Stephanie, Simminger Eva, Baldy Jana, Schraml Ulrich (2018): Forestry in interaction. Shedding light on dynamics of public opinion with a praxeological methodology. Forest Policy and Economics, 96, 93-101  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forpol.2018.08.005
 
Ciccarese Lorenzo, Mattsson Anders, Pettenella Davide (2012): Ecosystem services from forest restoration: thinking ahead. New Forests, 43, 543-560  https://doi.org/10.1007/s11056-012-9350-8
 
De Meo Isabela, Paletto Alessandro, Cantiani Maria Giulia (2014): The attractiveness of forests: preferences and perceptions in a mountain community in Italy. Annals of Forest Research, 58, 1-  https://doi.org/10.15287/afr.2015.308
 
Dobsinska Zuzana, Sarvasova Zuzana (2016): Perceptions of Forest Owners and the General Public on the Role of Forests in Slovakia. Acta Silvatica et Lignaria Hungarica, 12, 23-34  https://doi.org/10.1515/aslh-2016-0003
 
Fady Bruno, Cottrell Joan, Ackzell Lennart, Alía Ricardo, Muys Bart, Prada Arantxa, González-Martínez Santiago C. (2016): Forests and global change: what can genetics contribute to the major forest management and policy challenges of the twenty-first century?. Regional Environmental Change, 16, 927-939  https://doi.org/10.1007/s10113-015-0843-9
 
Hunziker M., Freuler B., Von Lindern E. (2011): Erholung im Wald: Erwartungen und Zufriedenheit, Verhalten und Konflikte. Forum für Wissen, 2011: 43–51.
 
Lindner M., Kolström M. (2008): Impacts of climate change in European forests and options for adaptation. Report to the European Commission Directorate-General for agriculture and Rural Development. Available at https://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/sites/agriculture/files/external-studies/2008/euro-forests/full_report_en.pdf (accessed May 22, 2019).
 
Millar C. I., Stephenson N. L. (2015): Temperate forest health in an era of emerging megadisturbance. Science, 349, 823-826  https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aaa9933
 
Pastorella F., Giacovelli G., Maesano M., Paletto A., Vivona S., Veltri A., Pellicone G., Scarascia Mugnozza G. (2016): Social perception of forest multifunctionality in southern Italy: The case of Calabria Region. Journal of Forest Science, 62, 366-379  https://doi.org/10.17221/45/2016-JFS
 
Pejcha J., Šišák L. (2010): Analýza příčin minimální návštěvnosti lesa ve vybraných lokalitách v České republice. Zprávy lesnického výzkumu, 55: 68–75. (in Czech with English abstract)
 
Perugini L, Vespertino D, Valentini R (2012): Durban Climate Conference: new perspectives on forests. Forest@ - Rivista di Selvicoltura ed Ecologia Forestale, 9, 1-7  https://doi.org/10.3832/efor0688-009
 
Rametsteiner E., Eichler L., Berg J. (2009): Schaping forest communication in the European Union: public perceptions of forests and forestry. Final Report. Rotterdam, ECORYS. Available at http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/fore/publi/public-perception/report_en.pdf (accessed Oct 25, 2018).
 
Riedl M. (2010): Marketingový pohled na výsledky výzkumu vnímání lesa a lesnictví. Zprávy lesnického výzkumu, 55: 1–9. (in Czech with English abstract)
 
Ritter Eva, Dauksta Dainis (2013): Human–forest relationships: ancient values in modern perspectives. Environment, Development and Sustainability, 15, 645-662  https://doi.org/10.1007/s10668-012-9398-9
 
Sadecký D., Pejcha J., Šišák L. (2014): Analýza názorů veřejnosti na les a lesní hospodářství v Chráněné krajinné oblasti Žďárské Vrchy. Zprávy lesnického výzkumu, 59: 11–17. (in Czech)
 
Skłodowski Jarosław, Gołos Piotr, Skłodowski Mateusz, Ożga Wojciech (2013): The preferences of visitors to selected forest areas for tourism and recreational purposes. Forest Research Papers, 74, 293-305  https://doi.org/10.2478/frp-2013-0028
 
Šišák L., Sloup R. (2010): Škody působené návštěvníky lesa na lesních porostech, pozemcích a infrastruktuře v lesích České republiky. Zprávy lesnického výzkumu, 55: 90–97. (in Czech with English abstract)
 
Trumbore S., Brando P., Hartmann H. (2015): Forest health and global change. Science, 349: 814–818.
 
download PDF

Web of Science

Core Collection – ESCI

SCImago Journal Rank  (SCOPUS)

SJR (2018) – 0.25

New Issue Alert

Join the journal on Facebook!
Ask for  email notification.

Publish with JFS!

– Full Open Access
– Rapid review and fast publication
– International knowledge sharing
– No article processing charge

Similarity Check

All the submitted manuscripts are checked by the CrossRef Similarity Check.

Referred to in

– Agrindex of AGRIS/FAO database 
– CAB Abstracts
– CNKI
– Czech Agricultural and Food Bibliography
– DOAJ (Directory of Open Access Journals)
– Elsevier’s Bibliographic Databases
– Google Scholar
– J-Gate
– SCOPUS
– TOXLINE PLUS
– Web of Science (Emerging Sources Citation Index, BIOSIS Citation Index)

Licence terms

All content is made freely available for non-commercial purposes, users are allowed to copy and redistribute the material, transform, and build upon the material as long as they cite the source.

Open Access Policy

This journal provides immediate open access to its content on the principle that making research freely available to the public supports a greater global exchange of knowledge.

Contact

Ing. Jana Janovcová
Executive Editor
phone: + 420 227 010 355
e-mail: jfs@cazv.cz

Address

Journal of Forest Science
Czech Academy of Agricultural Sciences
Slezská 7, 120 00 Praha 2, Czech Republic

© 2019 Czech Academy of Agricultural Sciences