The development of private forest owners typology using qualitative methodology in Lithuania

This paper addresses the typology of private forest owners (PFO) in Lithuania. Under conditions of unfinished restitution process and still developing private forestry that significantly influences this sector the typology is crucially important in the process revealing logics of behavior and goals of individual PFO. Therefore, this study aims to develop the typology of PFO in Lithuania. Using the methodology of project INTEGRAL (Future-Orientated Integrated Management of European Forest Landscapes) deep qualitative interviews of PFO in two case study areas (Žemaitija and Kazlų Rūda) were carried out. The emphasis has to be put on qualitative methodology that has never been used to elaborate typology of PFO in Lithuania. Qualitative interviews aimed to reveal information regarding PFO and their forest estates, forestry goals on own estates in connection with underlying problems as well as attitudes toward forestry in Lithuania. The results of the study showed variety of PFO according to the size of owned forest estates, forest types, knowledge and experience on forestry. Regarding this, various goals of PFO were deter-mined. In the context of private forestry development PFO faces problems related not only to forest management activities but also to environmental protection. Concerning PFO attitudes the private forestry in Lithuania was evaluated and expectations on solving problems in Lithuanian forestry were expressed. Following qualitative analysis four types PFO were identified as follows: forestry businessman, household forester, passive forest lover and ad-hoc (opportunist) forest ownerVytauto Didžiojo universitetasŽemės ūkio akademij