Characterizing loggers' forest management decisions

Making daily decisions with foresters and landowners, loggers play a critical role in managing forest resources. A study of Pennsylvania loggers was used to explore what factors might influence loggers' forest management decisions. Results from interviews and a mail survey suggest that loggers' choice of improvement thinnings versus diameter-limit cuts depends on their training, attitudes, and interactions with foresters. Specifically, we found that a single introductory course in forest ecology and silviculture can help loggers make more-informed management decisions, but loggers who work with some foresters may make decisions that have potentially negative impacts on the forest. Such insights into the logging industry are important for improving communication between foresters and loggers and thus improving forest practices.