Finnish forest owners' intentions to participate in cooperative forest management

In addressing global environmental challenges such as biodiversity loss, climate change, and the degradation of vulnerable ecosystems, the role of forest owners and their cooperation is essential. Despite the evident potential of cooperation, the interaction among forest owners remains an underexplored area, particularly concerning the factors that influence forest owners' willingness to cooperate. This study focuses on various forms of forest owner cooperation, ranging from shared goals to the joint implementation of management actions. We apply the theory of planned behavior to understand forest owners' intentions to cooperate based on their attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, and related beliefs. Using survey data from eastern Finland, the results demonstrate that a forest owners' intentions to cooperate are predominantly influenced by their attitudes. These attitudes towards cooperation are largely shaped by a set of behavioral beliefs that are primarily environmentally oriented. The findings suggest that emphasizing the environmental benefits of cooperation can be a key strategy in persuading forest owners to cooperate.