Bio-Based Paths to Prosperity for Small and Medium Forest Landowners A Pilot Study in Southwest Louisiana英文文献资料.docVIP

Open Journal of Forestry 2012. Vol.2, No.4, 272-278 Published Online October 2012 in SciRes (http://www.SciRP.org/journal/ojf) /10.4236/ojf.2012.24034 Bio-Based Paths to Prosperity for Small and Medium Forest Landowners: A Pilot Study in Southwest Louisiana Roger Smithhart 1 , Richard P. Vlosky , Michael Blazier , Paul Darby , 1 2 3 Glenn Hughes , Dek Terrell 5 4 1 Louisiana Forest Products Development Center, Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, Baton Rouge, USA Hill Farm Research Station, Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, Baton Rouge, USA 2 3 Department of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness, Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, Baton Rouge, USA 4 Forestry Extension, Mississippi State University, Starkville, USA 5 Economics Department, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, USA Email: rvlosky@ Received June 14 , 2012; Revised July 23 , 2012; Accepted August 9 , 2012 th rd th Forest biomass has great potential as a biofuel feedstock, but information on forest owner perceptions of using forest biomass to produce bioenergy is lacking. In this case study, we surveyed 3500 small to me- dium private forest landowners in southwestern Louisiana to better understand their attitudes and percep- tions towards harvesting forest biomass for bioenergy production. Results indicate that landowners: 1) were positive about utilizing biomass for bioenergy, 2) believe viable biomass conversion technologies exist, 3) had antagonistic or neutral attitudes towards some technological, economic, and policy issues associated with using forest biomass for bioenergy due in part to lack of information or knowledge, and 4) felt biomass is a low-value product compared to traditional products. Landowners’ percepti