Survey data on public support for forest restoration in Europe based on evidence from Sweden and Spain

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.