Farm and farmer characteristics affecting the decision to plant forests in Ireland

摘要

Understanding the factors that influence farmers to enter forestry is important in order to develop efficient policies aimed at promoting greater rates of private planting. Using Ireland as a case study, factors affecting farmers’ participation in farm forestry were evaluated. Specifically, a nationally representative panel dataset collected annually between 1995 and 2009 was used to model both farm and farmer related characteristics affecting the probability of farmers entering into forestry. Results suggest that there is significant heterogeneity among farm households in terms of farm forestry participation. Owners of larger farms and those in less-intensive farm systems were more likely to enter into forestry during the period 1995-2009. Age andthe presence of children were negatively associated with farm forestry participation.