An approach to clarifying public preferences about silvicultural systems: A case study concerning group selection and clear-cutting

To avoid large clear-cut areas in recreation areas, three experiments where group selection was used to transform even-aged stands of Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) into uneven-aged stands were started. Two of these group selection stands were compared with adjacent forests managed by the clear-cut system on the basis of the opinion of seven voluntary groups. The respondents have given their judgement of the forest sites in a semantic differential test. All parties made assessments when visiting the forest sites. In addition, two of the groups made assessments of black and white photographs representing the forest sites. The methods used were found to be both reliable and valid. A very low correlation was obtained between the assessment of whole forest areas and the mean value of the assessments of the stands within the same area. According to this study, the group selection method is preferable to clear-cutting in even-aged stands of Norway spruce if the attitudes of the voluntary groups are to be met.