Regulatory Intensity on Private Forestland and its Relationship with State Characteristics in the United States

• DOI: 10.1007/s00267-024-01974-6
• Publication Date: 2024-05-06T19:01:46Z
• Authors: Kamana Poudel; Mindy S. Crandall; Erin Clover Kelly
• Keywords: State forest

Abstract Though the federal government impacts private forest management across United States through legislation such as Clean Water Act, state-level regulations applied to landowners vary remarkably. Despite this diversity of policies, little is known about how variations in regulatory intensity (defined here number forestry regulations) correlate with political and socioeconomic characteristics. In study, we use a quantitative approach explore regulation on practices impacting all 50 states. We quantified by tabulating regulated practices, then used quasi-Poisson regression estimate relationship between characteristics, including forestland ownership types, economic importance industry, measures state environmentalism. Results indicated positive association percent corporate land, environmental voting records elected officials, direct democracy. Foresters may learn from these relationships, consider influence different build or achieve greater levels public trust. This study starts help us explain why policies differ, not just they differ.