Local people's attitudes and the importance of ecosystem services
The general attitude among the local people towards an increment
in tree plantations and towards the forest industry was positive. 75%
of interviewees considered the expansion of forestry plantations to be
quite or very positive. There was no significant difference in this respect
between town and villages (which can be seen as rural areas),
but gender did play a role: male respondents had a more positive attitude
(85% in favor) than female ones (63% in favor). There were no
major differences arising from the age of the respondent; 16% of the
youngest age group, however, were disposed neutrally toward plantations
and 12% quite or very negatively, while 22% of the middle
age group and 18% of the oldest respondents were disposed quite or
very negatively. Trepidation as to the possible environmental impact
of plantations was also split: 47% of respondents were very or quite
worried about the impact, while 41% were only slightly worried or
not at all. There were no clear differences between town and village
dwellers; likewise neither the gender nor the age of respondents
was significant. 76% of the local people considered it very important
that they should be able to participate in the planning of new plantations
and to influence their location.
The most common issues of concern with regard to plantations are
shown in Fig. 4 (total 89 answers). Although the term ‘ecosystem services’
as such was unfamiliar to the respondents, they recognized the