Private forest owners belief in, experience of and adaptation of forest management to climate change

Climate scenarios for Sweden show that average temperatures could rise by 4-7 degrees by year 2100. Forecasts show that climate zones will shift northward by about 5-10 kilometers every year, which will result in large changes for forestry. The purpose of this study was to answer whether private forest owner's belief in and adaptation to climate change have increased since 2010. Furthermore, to investigate whether private forest owners have experienced climate change in their forestry and if this in turn affects the belief in and adaptation to climate change. A questionnaire was sent to 700 forest owners in Kronoberg County in Sweden. Nearly 20% of those respondents who answered that yes they certainly have experienced any weather or climate conditions which they interpret as a cause of climate change has also responded that they, yes certainly believe that climate change that it affects their forest. 28% of the respondents replied that they had adapted their forestry to climate change. The study showed that the proportion forest owners believing in climate change as well as the proportion adapting forestry to climate change has increased since 2010. There was a relation between belief in climate change mand the degree of adaption. There was also a relation between the perception of climate change and belief in climate change. A correlation was also seen between the experience of climate change and the level of adaption