The Consequential Role of Aesthetics in Forest Fuels Reduction Propensities: Diverse Landowners’ Attitudes and Responses to Project Types, Risks, Costs, and Habitat Benefits

Private landowners in the southern Willamette Valley of Oregon, USA were surveyed. The survey queried probabilities implementing specific fuels reduction projects extensive areas forest types on their property. described relation to beginning and target types, actions required, costs, long-term maintenance. Forest first rated for scenic beauty informed levels wildfire risk reduction, scarce habitat production, associated property rights risks. Propensities perform each project then obtained. These adversely affected by disbelief heightened risks or climate change, higher feelings hopeless vulnerability wildfire, low aesthetic affections forests. enhanced affection forests, belief efficaciousness previous experience with evacuation, incomes. All favored thinning young conifer but some averse mature Anthropocentric landowners, mainly farmers, foresters, small holders, tended favor conventional thinnings toward commercially valuable forests avoided Nature-centric rural residents wealthy estate owners, leaned more long term goals oak