Forest seeking owner for a sustainable relationship: study on private forest in Sologne, France

Abstract

While the forest management concept is being redefined and new forest orientations appear, how is the landowner going to adapt to all these facing challenges? Sologne, a natural entity in France covered by private forests, represents a pertinent field of study. Based on a qualitative interview method, we elaborated a typology of the forest owners in Sologne, which highlights six major 'forest attitudes'. To evaluate the potentialities of sustainable forest management, we have to enlarge our analysis to all stakeholders, study their interactions and their impact on the ecosystem. Sologne on the way to sustainability? Yes, under certain conditions...