The study, published in the journal Forest Policy and Economics, found that African-American forest owners in the South are less likely to use federal assistance programs for a variety of reasons, including a lack of awareness of available programs, a lack of trust in government agencies, and a belief that the programs are too bureaucratic.
“Our findings suggest that there is a need for targeted outreach and education efforts to inform African-American forest owners about available federal assistance programs, as well as efforts to build trust and reduce the perceived bureaucracy associated with these programs,” said study lead author Dr. Erin Seekamp, an assistant professor in the University of Georgia’s Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources.
The study also found that African-American forest owners are more likely to use informal sources of assistance, such as friends, family, and other landowners.
“This finding suggests that African-American forest owners may be more comfortable relying on informal sources of assistance because they trust these sources more and perceive them as less bureaucratic,” Seekamp said.
The study is based on a survey of 1,200 forest owners in the South, including both white and African-American forest owners. The survey data was collected in 2019 and 2020.
The findings of the study have implications for federal policy makers and forest management professionals who are working to increase the participation of African-American forest owners in federal assistance programs.
“Our findings suggest that there is a need for a multifaceted approach to increasing the participation of African-American forest owners in federal assistance programs,” Seekamp said. “This approach should include targeted outreach and education efforts, as well as efforts to build trust and reduce the perceived bureaucracy associated with these programs.”
