DOI: 10.16904/envidat.694
title: Survey data on public support for forest restoration in Europe based on evidence from Sweden and Spain

description: This dataset accompanies the article Factors influencing public support for forest restoration in Europe: Evidence from Sweden and Spain, published in the journal Ecosystems and People. It presents results from a multi-country survey exploring public perceptions of forests and support for forest restoration in Västerbotten County (Sweden) and the Castilla y León autonomous community (Spain).
Between March and September 2024, structured questionnaires were distributed to 3,000 randomly selected households, yielding 241 valid responses after data cleaning (171 from Sweden and 70 from Spain). The dataset includes anonymised survey responses measured on 5-point Likert scales, covering composite indicators for support for forest restoration, perceived forest benefits, and perceived impacts of restoration activities. It also contains socio-demographic information such as age, education level, and years of residence.
Sampling adhered to the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Swiss Federal Act on Data Protection. Principal Components Analysis (PCA) was used to construct composite indicators, and Generalised Linear Modelling (GLM) was applied to assess how socio-demographic and perceptual factors influence support for restoration.
The dataset provides insights into behavioural, perceptual, and demographic factors that shape public support for forest restoration, contributing to policy discussions, such as the EU Nature Restoration Regulation (2023). A full codebook is included to facilitate reuse.
description: Resource Title: Forest_Restoration_Survey_Metadata_Sweden_Spain_2024.xlsx
 Size: 15572 bytes
 Format: application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.spreadsheetml.sheet
 URL: https://www.envidat.ch/dataset/bd1818e7-deef-4ecb-95bf-6d7fb26239e4/resource/90046645-5c1e-482b-9da2-931fc5da1866/download/metadata_sweden_spain.xlsx
 Description: This metadata file provides detailed documentation for the survey dataset titled "Survey data on public support for forest restoration in Europe based on evidence from Sweden and Spain." It includes:

Variable Map (Variable names and descriptions): Each survey item is listed alongside a clear explanation of its content and purpose.
Labels Map: For categorical variables, response options are defined numerically and labelled (e.g., Likert scale options, age groups, gender).
Derived variables: Several composite indicators have been created from survey responses, including support for restoration, perceived forest benefits, and perceived restoration impacts.
The metadata enables accurate interpretation, reuse, and analysis of the dataset and is formatted in two Excel sheets:

Variable Map – detailing survey question codes and content.
Labels Map – providing categorical response scales for select questions.
description: Resource Title: Forest_Restoration_Survey_Data_Sweden_Spain_2024.xlsx
 Size: 48735 bytes
 Format: application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.spreadsheetml.sheet
 URL: https://www.envidat.ch/dataset/bd1818e7-deef-4ecb-95bf-6d7fb26239e4/resource/a5233576-1b32-495d-a2da-0b7743100d92/download/dataset_sweden_spain.xlsx
 Description: This file contains anonymised survey responses from 241 individuals in Västerbotten County (Sweden) and Castilla y León (Spain), collected between March and September 2024. It includes variables on forest visitation, restoration awareness, perceptions of forest benefits and impacts, and socio-demographic characteristics. The responses are coded numerically and correspond to categories defined in the metadata file. The dataset supports analysis of public support for forest restoration as presented in the associated article.