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Understanding why farmers plant trees
Authors: J. R. FairweatherPublication: New Zealand Journal of Forestry, Volume N.Z.J.For. 1996, Issue N.Z.J.For. 41(2) 1996, pp 34-38, Aug 1996
Publisher: New Zealand Institute of Forestry
Abstract: Farmers* attitudes to trees are well covered in the literature but it does not directly examine farmer decision-making. Research conducted in 1992 is reported in this article and used to show how decision tree modelling can provide an improved understanding of farmer decision-making. Results show that four decision trees were necessary to understand decisions made by a non-random sample of farmers in Hawke's Bay. Each tree specifies elimination criteria, cost and benefit calculations, reasons to plant and constraints that prevent farmers from planting. The results are interpreted in the light of the New Zealand literature and some recommendations for future research are made.