Based on a national representative telephone survey (n = 999), we 1) analyzed public opinion on selected indicators from the National Forest Programme (NFP), and 2) analyzed how environmental value orientations measured by the New Ecological Paradigm (NEP) Scale, and social and demographic factors influence public opinion on forest management. The public was mainly unaware of the NFP. The prevailing belief was that in the last decade the state of forests has deteriorated, that there is a lack of control in forests, the share of forestry in gross domestic product is too low, growing stock is sufficient, the number of foresters in the public forestry service is too small and that there are too many state forests. Public opinion was most divided regarding the damage caused by game. Positive opinion about forest management was influenced by the anthropocentric value orientation and education, and negative opinion increased by age, female gender, and general beliefs about the harmful effects of humanity on the environment. The mean value of the NEP scale (which equalled 3.5 on a scale from 1 to 5) indicates that the Slovenian public is slightly eco-centric. We conclude the study by comparing public opinion with the dynamics of indicators over the last eleven years and the goals and guidelines set in the NFP.
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