Landowner and manager awareness and perceptions of pine health issues and southern pine management activities in the southeastern United States

Abstract

We assessed awareness and perceptions of forest landowners and managers in the southeastern United Statesregarding their stand health especially under the context of the southern pine decline (SPD) phenomenon. E-mailand paper surveys were sent to 4,670 forest landowners and managers in Florida, Georgia, and South Carolinawith an overall response rate of 28%. About half (51%) of respondents reported having healthy andsymptom-free pine stands, and only 11% reported elevated levels of dying pine or pine mortality within thelast year. Few (30%) respondents were aware of SPD. Insects, disease, and drought were perceived as themost important threats to pine health. Respondents usually used material from state agencies, professionalspeakers, or research publications for information regarding pine stand management. Data indicate a favorableoutlook for pine health in the southeastern United States, as landowners were engaged and willing to userecognized management prescriptions.

Citation

Coyle, David R.; Green, Gary T.; Barnes, Brittany F.; Klepzig, Dier D.; Nowak, John T.; Gandhi, J.K. 2016. Landowner and manager awareness and perceptions of pine health issues and southern pine management activities in the southeastern United States. Journal of Forestry 114(5): 541-551. 11.p. https://doi.org/10.5849/jof.15-093