How Aspects of Collective Action Relate to Implementation of Cooperative Management Among Private Landowners

Forested land is increasingly owned in small parcels by family forest owners who are becoming less likely to conduct the management which supports ecosystems, economies, and communities. One way to encourage private land management is through group cooperatives. Characteristics of collective action that support group cooperative participation are well understood but how they relate to management implementation is not. Examining Wisconsin's Deer Management Assistance Program as a case, we sought to understand how characteristics associated with collective action relate to cooperative cross-boundary management implementation. Through a member survey, we found elements of trust, social capital, information sharing, and goal alignment to be associated with management action implementation. Significant characteristics and their relationship to implementation varied across land, habitat, and forest management actions. Our results emphasize the need to customize professional assistance to complement the group cooperative's landowner demographics and management goals.