Women-owned and managed forests provide diverse public
values, including wildlife habitat, forest products, water quality, climate
mitigation, and recreation. However, many women may lack the skills, knowledge,
and confidence to make informed stewardship decisions and effectively manage
their forestland. Women in the Woods, a project of the University of New
Hampshire Cooperative Extension (UNHCE), NH Timberland Owners Association
(NHTOA), and the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests (SPNHF),
seeks to support women landowners, managers, communities, and natural resource
professionals across New Hampshire. Women in the Woods uses a needs-based
approach to develop and provide skills-based training and assistance for
stewardship planning to a network of women forestland owners and managers
across New Hampshire. The goal is to provide a historically underserved and
increasingly important audience in forestry outreach and technical assistance
with increased capacity to protect, manage, and enhance New Hampshire’s
valuable forest resources.
No prior research has been identified in New Hampshire to
assess the needs and experiences of women who participate in forestland
management. In summer 2022, UNH Extension anonymously surveyed self-identified
women and gender nonconforming forestland owners and managers 18 years of age
or older. The survey was exclusively online through the software Qualtrics and
was distributed by social media, websites, e-newsletters, and e-mail. The
survey consisted of 46 questions of Likert scales, multiple selection
responses, closed-ended, and open-ended questions. The results in this report
are based on 415 responses to the survey completed between July and September
2022. Results described exclude certain responses—such as those who made
irreverent comments, self-identified men, and respondents who completed less
than 60% of the survey.
This survey aimed to identify:
- Reasons
for owning or managing land
- Ownership
and forestland characteristics
- Previous
management activities
- Future
intentions
- Perceived
barriers and challenges to forestland management
- Participation
in natural resources programs
- Experiences
with differential treatment based on gender
The results included in this video are a summary of key findings. You can read the report here:
https://extension.unh.edu/resource/women-woods-needs-assessment-approach-understanding-women-forestl...