How policy addressees intend to respond to EU policy change? A cross-country survey analysis of forest owner behavioral types and responses to EU biodiversity and climate objectives

How do forest owners and managers – as policy addressees - intend to respond to EU policy – such as biodiversity and climate policy objectives - across different national contexts? Addressing this question, the study builds on social science behavioral theories to derive forest owner and manager types (FOTs) based on distinct decision-making logics. Using survey data from 1573 respondents in five European countries (Germany, Poland, Slovenia, Spain, and Sweden) and applying hierarchical cluster analysis, the study quantitatively identifies and validates these behavioral types across diverse institutional and ecological settings. The results show that multifunctionalists consistently support EU biodiversity and climate objectives, while optimizers tend to prioritize economic outcomes and often oppose regulatory interventions. Environmentalists display generally positive but context-dependent responses, whereas traditionalists show more limited support, particularly for stricter conservation measures. Across countries, the presence of similar behavioral types but varying response patterns highlights the importance of national context in shaping policy support and resistance. By linking behavioral typologies to EU policy objectives, the study advances forest policy and Europeanization research by introducing an actor-centered explanation of differentiated policy implementation outcomes. The findings provide insights for more targeted and context-sensitive policy design, while acknowledging the limits of survey-based measures of behavioral responses.