SHOW CARD 1: Goods and Services Provided by Forests

VALUATION questionnaire

MEDITERRANEAN CASE STUDY

Good morning, my name is XXX and I work for a project run by the European Forest Institute whose objective is knowing the opinion of Catalan citizens about their forests. Would you be so kind to spend half an hour with me to answer some questions related to this topic? Your answers will be totally anonymous and confidential. There are no right or wrong answers; we just want to know your opinion.

(SHOW CARD 1: Goods and services provided by forests)

In general forests provide us with wood, mushrooms or wild fruits. But also clean air, space to practice recreational activities and serve as a refuge to different plant and animal species.

Q2. (SHOW CARD 2: Which service is most important?)

From the following list of things ofprovided by forests, which are the two that seem more important to you?Please choose the TWO options more important to you

Q3. (SHOW CARD 3: map of Catalonia and Aleppo pine)

In Catalonia, forests cover approximately 1.2 million hectares, which is about 38% of the community’s territory. Almost 25% (229,000 ha) of the forest area are Aleppo pine forest.Have you ever been to such a forest? /Have you ever seen such a forest?

yes, I have been in such forest1

no2

Q4. (SHOW CARD 4: Picture of non-managed forests)

Currently, most Aleppo pine forests are not managed, because of high management costs. When Aleppo pine forests are not managed they are very dense, with a lot of trees and shrubs growing close together. This influences the ability of these forests to provide some of the abovementioned things.

The Catalan government considers implementing a program that would improve this situation of Aleppo pine forests by actively manage these forests. In the following, we will explain you the main features of such plan to elicit your opinion.

Forests host different plants and animals. Biodiversity is the term used to describe this variety. We say a forest is more diverse when it hosts a higher variety of animals and plants.

Q5. (SHOW CARD 5: Picture of non-managed and managed Aleppo pine forests)

With the proposed management program the pine tree density would be lowered. Thus, light can enter more easily which will enable other tree species to grow in these forests. Forests with more tree species would be able to host a higher number of different plants and animals, and we would say that such forests have higher biodiversity.

Q6. (SHOW CARD 6: Biodiversity levels)

Now we would like to show you a table with the current situation and three possible alternatives that can be achieved with the management program that may increase the number of tree species in these forests and therefore, it may also increase biodiversity

Q7. (SHOW CARD 7: importance of increasing biodiversity levels)

Do you like the idea of promoting and conserving tree species diversity in Aleppo pine forests? Please choose the two options that re more important for you

Q8. In the forest we can enjoy several recreational activities: hiking, biking, mushroom and berries picking or camping. Could you tell us how many times did you visit the forest in the last three months for recreational purposes?

___ times

(SHOW CARD 10: Aleppo pine forests with low and improved accessibility)

When forests are very dense, with trees growing very close together it is difficult to practise any recreational activity. There is not enough space to comfortably walk and move between the trees and very often also existing forest paths are overgrown with dense vegetation so they cannot be used. It is estimated that currently only 10% of Aleppo pine forests in Catalonia are suitable for recreational purposes.

(SHOW CARD 11: recreational levels)

Now we would like to show you a table with the current situation and three possible alternatives that can be achieved with the management program that may increase the area of Aleppo pine forests suitable to practise recreational activities.

(ONLY IF THE INTERVIEWEE HAS VISITED THE FOREST IN THE LAST THREE MOTHS Q8 WITH VALUE 1 OR MORE)

Q12 (SHOW CARD 12: recreational activities)

Which of the following activities do you namely practice when you recreate in the forest? Please chose these three that you practice more frequently.

ONLY IF THE INTERVIEWEE HAS VISITED THE FOREST IN THE LAST THREE MOTHS q8 WITH VALUE 1 OR MORE)

Q13 (SHOW CARD 12: recreational reasons)

Which are the reasons why you visit the forest? Please tick each of these depending on your preferences.

Human activities, such as transportation, industries or heating, release carbon dioxide (CO2) to the atmosphere. If the quantity of released carbon dioxide is very high, it can cause temperature increases and changes in the global climate. This phenomenon is known as global warming.

Q14: Are you worried about the effects of climate change?

Q15: Do you believe that climate has changed during the last 10 years?

Q16: Do you believe that climate change will influence our way of life in the next 10 years?

(SHOW CARD 17: carbon storing process) When growing, trees absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and store it in their trunks, branches and roots. Therefore, forests can help to store part of the emissions produced by humans, and lower the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

When they lack management, Aleppo pine forests are very dense. In such forests, trees grow very slowly because there are many of them competing for the available water and light. When trees grow slow they absorb less carbon dioxide.

The proposed management program in Aleppo pine forests would reduce the forest density by removing less healthy trees. This would allow the remaining trees to grow faster, and to absorb more carbon dioxide.

(SHOW CARD 18):The following tableshows some drawings representing the number of Catalonian citizens whose emissions could be compensated by Aleppo pine forests. Thefirst column shows the current situation while the remaining three show possible alternatives that could take place in case a management program would be implemented

Forest fires are one of the important issues related to forests in Catalonia. On average 5400 ha of forests are burned per year of which 22% (1200 ha) are Aleppo pine forests.

P19. (SHOW CARD 19: options to reduce forest fires) To decrease the impacts of forest fires in Catalonia, which of the following measures would you prefer?

(SHOW CARD 20: type of forest fires)In unmanaged forests many trees grow close together and often dense shrub coverage is present. Because of the high amount of plants, if in such forest a fire occurs it can spread fast, producing tall flames and high temperatures.

The proposed management program would decrease the amount of tree so that if a forest fire occurs, it would be less harmful, because it would spread less easily, being easier to supress and reducing the burned area.

(SHOW CARD 21: levels of burned hectares) The following tableshows the current situation and three alternatives that could take place in case a management program would be implemented.

(SHOW CARD 22: current situation)Here we show you a summary of the current situation of Aleppo pine forests in Catalonia.Most of these forests have one tree species and a low level of biodiversity. Furthermore, 10% of these forests are suitable for practicing recreational activities. These forests are able to store an amount of carbon which is equivalent to the emissions of X Catalan citizens. While, in the case a fire occurs, the forest would recover itself in X years / The annually burned area for these forests is 1200 ha.

In continuation, we will show you some examples of alternative management programs for Aleppo pine forests. The proposed management programmes would change the biodiversity level, area of forests suitable for recreation activities, the amount of carbon stored and the recovery time after a forest fire/annual area burned. These changes would take place gradually (option in 10 years).

It is proposed that the management programme of Aleppo pine forests would start next year.

The application of the programme would require additional funding. The current budget from the Regional Environmental Department could fund the programme only partially. The remaining funds would have to be provided by payments made by all Catalan residents.

The allocated funding and type of management programme will depend on what you and the rest of people answering this questionnaire are willing to pay. If not enough people agree to pay for the programme, no changes in forest management will take place. On the contrary, if you agree to pay, compulsory payments will be collected annually from all Catalan residents. Payments would be collected and managed by a Foundation established for this purpose.

Q23 (CHOICE CARDS SO THEY CAN CHOOSE THEIR PREFERED OPTION IN EACH OF THEM)

(Show cards from 23.1 to 23.6. THE INTERVIEWED PEOPLE SHOULD ANSWER EACH FO THEM AND MOVE TO THE NEXT. THEY SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO GO BACK TO THE PREVIOUS CARD) The following cards will show you the current situation and some management alternatives for Aleppo pine forests. The current situation comes at no extra costs for you. It is already covered by your taxes. The remaining two would have a cost for you. We would like you to choose your preferred one. When choosing your preferred alternative, please consider your current income and remember that there may be other things that you would like to spend your money on.

Finally, we would like to let you know that results from similar studies have shown that respondents have a tendency to overestimate how much they actually are willing to pay trough THESE KIND OF COMPULSORY CONTRIBUTIONS. Therefore, we ask you to carefully consider the different alternatives in relation to your PERSONAL INCOME. Please note, that the additional payment will reduce your spending on other goods and services in your everyday life

Q24: How difficult did you find it to make the choice in the previous section?

(ONLY IF THE RESPONDENT ANSWERED “DIFFICULT OR VERY DIFFICULT” TO THE PREVIOUS QUESTION)

Q25. (Show card 25: difficulty in choosing)why did you find it difficult to choose your preferred alternative? (Write a 1 at the most important reason and a 2 at the second most important reason)

(ONLY TO BE ASKED TO TEHSE RESPONDENTS CHOOSING 5 OR 6 TMIES IN THE CHOICE CARDS THE CURRENT SITUATION AS THEIR PREFERRED OPTION)

Q26. (SHOW CARD 26: why not to pay) In the above choice sets, you selected the status quo option every time. Could you tell us what was the reason? (Please mark the one that suits you more)

1. I prefer that the Catalan forests are unmanaged

1. Others: ______

(ONLY TO BE ASKED TO TEHSE RESPONDENTS NEVER CHOOSING THE CURRENT SITUATION AS THEIR PREFERRED OPTION)

Q27: if you have not selected the current situation in any of the choice cards, can you please let us know why?

Q28 (SHOW CARD 28: Attributes that they considered)How important were the individual attributes for your choice in the choice questions? (Mark one for each attribute) How important were the individual attributes for your choice in the choice questions? (Mark one for each attribute)

Q29 (SHOW CARD 29: where to increase biodiversity)We have focused on improving biodiversity status in Catalonia. But effort to increase biodiversity levels can also be done in other areas of the world. If you were to contribute economically to improvements for biodiversity, which of the following initiatives would to choose (choose only one)?

Q30. Do you think it is important to increase the area of Aleppo pine forest for recreational activities in Catalonia?

(ONLY FOR THESE PEOPLE SAYING “YES” TO THE PREVIOUS)

Q31. (SHOW CARD 31: why increasing the area of forest for recreational activities). Increasing the possibilities for recreational use of Aleppo pine forests are important because

Q32. (Show card 32: Where to increase CO2 storage) In the previous questions we have seen how CO2 storage can be increase in Catalan forests, but this could also be enhanced in forest in other places. ¿which of the following alternatives would you prefer to be developed to reduce the CO” in the atmosphere, provided they all would have the same cost?

Q33. (SHOW CARD 33: why is it important?) Do you find it important increasing the amount of CO2 stored by Catalan forests?

Q34. (SHOW CARD 34: nature perception)How well do the following claims regarding people and their relation with nature, correspond to your opinion?