The aim of this article is to present a comparative analysis of survey results on the assessment of the work and image of foresters and the State Forests National Forest Holding in Poland, conducted in 2019 and 2021/2022. The first survey, involving 1,000 respondents, was conducted in 2019 using the quantitative CAPI (Computer−Assisted Personal Interview) method. In 2021/2022, the survey was repeated and expanded to include questions about the impact of restrictions imposed on society due to the COVID−19 pandemic. Therefore, the entire study period was assumed to be 2019−2022. Again, 1,000 respondents participated. This survey was conducted using an electronic questionnaire, with data collected via the CAWI (Computer−Assisted Web Interviewing) method. The survey included sociodemographic variables (such as age, gender, education, place of residence, and respondents’ acquaintance with foresters) and time variables relating to the year of data collection (2019 vs. 2021/2022). We examined whether respondents surveyed in 2021/22 assessed the work of foresters more favourably than those surveyed in 2019, and how interactions with the forest and foresters shape these assessments. The survey results indicated increased public awareness of the role played by foresters, particularly in nature conservation, environmental education, and sustainable forest resource management. The differences in acquaintance and perception of the role of foresters between respondents who knew a forester personally and those who did not were especially significant. In addition to positive changes in the perception of the State Forests, the survey analysis also highlighted challenges facing the State Forests, such as the limited visibility of foresters’ work and controversies related to economic activities. We argue for the need for further public education, not only to broaden knowledge of the functioning of the State Forests, but also because acquaintance (and not just personal experience) strongly influences public attitudes and opinions. The results present a time−specific comparative picture of public perceptions during the period before and during the COVID−19 pandemic. They serve as a baseline for future longitudinal analyses and do not directly reflect current public sentiment.
Duranowska et al. (Wed,) studied this question.