What do you associate with forests

Over the last few decades, crucial changes have taken place in the views and demands on forests by society at large. This includes the increased environmental awareness and recreational interests of society. These changes also affect the public’s way of looking at the traditional role of forests as producers of raw materials and results in demand of other type of services provided by forest, nature heritage tourism is among them.

To gain the first glimpse on the perception of Latvian consumer towards forests, a team of volunteers have been questioning the inhabitants of Latvia on values they associate with forests. An Internet poll was placed in web page of LFN and “Lauku ceļotājs” as well. So far, 542 respondents' opinions have been received. 

Responses clearly stating the fact that overwhelming majority of responses are those not associated with timber values, but rather with services provided by forest that are based on natural functions of the forest.

The picture above shows the preliminary results in a doodle format, with most common associations marked in larger font.

06.12.2010.

The project is partly financed by the European Union within the Baltic Sea Region Programme.