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.
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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

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