Recreation attitudes as related to forest and recreation management policies on small forest ownerships in East Texas

Abstract

A study was undertaken in 1972 to determine the potential of small forest landowners in the East Texas Pineywoods to meet the increasing demand for outdoor recreation in East Texas. The objectives of this study were: 1) to estimate the attitude towards recreation of persons owning between 40 and 999 acres of forest land; 2) to estimate the intensity of forest management on these lands; 3) to estimate present forest management policies, recreation policies, personal recreation habits, and selected socio-economic characteristics of these landowners; and 4) to correlate attitude towards recreation with socio-economic characteristics and management policies for recreation and forestry. A sample of 1,600 landowners (from a total population of 32,583) owning these relatively small tracts of forest land were contacted by mailed questionnaire. This questionnaire contained: 1) a 34-statement attitude scale to measure attitude towards recreation, 2) questions concerning personal recreation habits, recreation management policies, and forest management policies, and 3) questions to determine socio-economic characteristics of these landowners. ...