A multidimensional place perspective on private forest owners' intention to plant non-native fast-growing broadleaves: Findings from Sweden

Forests play a crucial role in climate mitigation through carbon storage and the substitution of fossil-based materials, which increases the demand for biomass. Fast-growing broadleaves can help meet this demand. This study draws on a progressive sense of place and utilizes a multidimensional framework of place to examine private forest owners' intentions to plant hybrid aspen and poplar, two non-native broadleaved species, across land types (agricultural and forest land). Based on survey data, Forest-Only Owners (n = 315) and Agricultural Forest Owners (n = 686) in central and southern Sweden were analysed. Overall, intentions to plant the species were low, with some minor differences between owner groups, land types, and species. While physical, social, and relational place dimensions showed few significant effects on intentions individually, interactions between social and relational dimensions were significant for Agricultural Forest Owners. For example, a low flow of information is associated with higher intention to plant both species on agricultural land among certified owners, but the opposite was found for non-certified owners. Place-based experience, consisting of subjective knowledge and having seen the species, was the most consistent predictor of intentions. This multidimensional understanding of place offers valuable insights into the interconnectedness of place dimensions in shaping management decisions.