Analysis of North Dakota Non-Industrial Private Forest Landowners' Survey Data and Geo-Spatial Reprioritization of Stewardship Forest: A Case Study

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The study is undertaken to analyze non-industrial private forest (NIPF) landowners’ characteristics and behavior in North Dakota, USA, in order to identify socio-economic variables, which affect participation behavior in forestry assistance programs offered by the North Dakota Forest Service, for economic development in the state and for better forest management strategies. By utilizing survey results conducted on NIPF landowners ranging from 1981 to 2006, discrete choice model is used for the analysis based on the total of 221 North Dakota landowners. In addition to that, we introduce alternative prioritization strategies involving economic rent by utilizing geo-spatial analysis method using Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Our alternative prioritization strategies categorize potential stewardship priorities into smaller classes and improve forest management effectiveness. These tools would help forestry management agencies with increase forest management efficiency.

Stream: Economic Sustainability

Paper: A paper has not yet been submitted.

I hold a bachelor's degree in economics from Minnesota State University Moorhead, USA, and have been attending North Dakota State University, USA, as a master's candidate in environmental and conservation sciences since August 2007. My research emphasizes include Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and resource economics.