%0 Research article
%T Nature conservation efforts by forest owners – intentions and practice in a Swedish case study
%A Uliczka, Helen
%D 2003
%J Silva Fennica
%V 37
%N 4
%R doi:10.14214/sf.485
%U https://silvafennica.fi/article/485
%X Before a forest operation Swedish forest owners need to fill in a  registration form. Since 1994, when a new Swedish Forestry Act came into  force, intended nature conservation measures can also be noted on the  form. I evaluate 1) if the self-reported nature conservation intentions  displayed any trends from 1995 to 2000, and 2) if the intentions were  implemented. All forms from these years, in one municipality, were  analysed and the stand structure retention was measured on 40  clear-cuts. The intentions, noted as check-marks on the form, showed an  increasing trend during these years. However, the increase may be an  artefact of changes the form during the time period. The number of  check-marks on the forms and the stand structure items actually present  on the 40 clear-cuts showed a positive relation. The clear-cuts with ≤ 3  check-marks on the form had lower amounts of the three most common  items, than those with ≥ 4 check-marks. To conclude 1) a true increase  in the self-reported intentions of the forest owners could not be  established; 2) the intentions were generally followed by associated  practices on the clear-cuts; 3) the amounts of stand structures retained  were probably not enough to reach the biodiversity goal of the Forestry  Act. The registration form could be improved to become less open for  interpretation and contain quantified recommendations. Self-reported  intentions of the forest owners could then possibly be used as  indicators of real structural retention, which could facilitate planning  and allow for making predictions about the future forests.