National Woodland National Woodland Owner SurveyOwner Survey

Brett J. ButlerBrett J. ButlerUSDA Forest ServiceUSDA Forest ServiceNortheastern Research StationNortheastern Research StationForest Inventory and Analysis Forest Inventory and Analysis ProgramProgram

NE Forest Inventory and Analysis Users’ MeetingPittsburgh, PA May 3, 2005

22

National Woodland National Woodland Owner SurveyOwner Survey

Objectives:Objectives:– Who are the Who are the

landowners?landowners?– Why do they own Why do they own

land?land?– How do they use it?How do they use it?– How do they intend to How do they intend to

use it?use it? Random sample of Random sample of

private forest-land private forest-land owners in the U.S.owners in the U.S.

Self-administered Self-administered mail questionnairemail questionnaire

Annual designAnnual design

33

Ownership CategoriesOwnership Categories

All Owners

Public Private

Federal State Local NonindustrialIndustrial

OtherForest

industryFamilies and

individualsOther

44

Forest OwnershipForest Ownership

55

Forest Ownership Forest Ownership

United States

Federal34%

State10%

Local1%

FI9%

NIPF46%

Pennsylvania

Federal3% State

18%

Local1%

FI4%

NIPF74%

Source: Forest Resources of the United States, 2002

66

Forest Ownership, Forest Ownership, PennsylvaniaPennsylvania

Nonforest

State game lands

National Forest

State forests

Private

77

Who are the family Who are the family forest owners?forest owners? Number of ownersNumber of owners

538,000538,000 Forested acres Forested acres

ownedowned10 million10 million

EducationEducation54% some college54% some college

OccupationOccupation49% retired49% retired

Average ageAverage age61 years61 years

Owner Age

0%

10%

20%

30%

Age (years)

Perc

ent

of fo

rest

land

88

What size holdings do What size holdings do they have?they have?

0

1,000

2,000

3,000

4,000

Size of Forest Holdings (ac)

Fam

ily F

ore

st L

and

(ac,

thousa

nds)

99

What size holdings do What size holdings do they have?they have?

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

1-9 10-49 50-99 100-499

500-999

1000-4999

5000+

Size of Forest Holdings (ac)

Fam

ily F

ore

st O

wners

(T

housa

nds)

1010

What is the relationship What is the relationship between forest between forest management and size of management and size of forest holdings?forest holdings?

0

25

50

75

100

0 200 400 600 800 1000

Size of Forest Holdings (ac)

Pro

babilit

y

Timber Harvesting

Management Advice

Written Management Plan

1111

Why do they own Why do they own forest land?forest land?

0 20 40 60 80

Timber production

Land investment

Family legacy

Hunting/ other rec.

Aesthetics or nature

Privacy, home, or farm

Percent of Family Forest Land

1212

Forest ManagementForest Management

Timber harvestingTimber harvesting– 21% of family forest 21% of family forest

ownersowners– 38% of family forests38% of family forests

Forest management Forest management plansplans– 1% of family forest 1% of family forest

ownersowners– 6% of family forestland6% of family forestland

Professional Professional assistance assistance – 8% of family forest 8% of family forest

ownersowners– 25% of family 25% of family

forestlandforestland

1313

What do they intend to What do they intend to do with it in the next 5 do with it in the next 5 years?years?

0 20 40 60 80

Sell forestland

Transfer to heirs

Buy forestland

Harvest timber

Harvest firewood

No plans

Percent of Family Forestland

1414

Trends in Forest Trends in Forest OwnershipOwnership Increased population pressuresIncreased population pressures Evolving role of investment organizations and Evolving role of investment organizations and

traditional forest industry companiestraditional forest industry companies Parcelization and consolidationParcelization and consolidation Public lands increasing, but remaining Public lands increasing, but remaining

relatively stablerelatively stable Lack of management fundsLack of management funds High landowner turnover (families and High landowner turnover (families and

individuals)individuals) Changing ownership objectives (families and Changing ownership objectives (families and

individuals)individuals)

1515

Data DistributionData Distribution

Journal articlesJournal articles Forest Service Forest Service

publicationspublications Web toolsWeb tools OtherOther

www.fs.fed.us/woodlandowners

1616

The Future of the The Future of the NWOSNWOS Annual design: Annual design:

– Contact 7,500 landowners per yearContact 7,500 landowners per year Remeasurement (5-10 years)Remeasurement (5-10 years) State-specific informationState-specific information Distribution of data and resultsDistribution of data and results Increased analysisIncreased analysis Refine and modify survey instrumentRefine and modify survey instrument

– Address more specific issuesAddress more specific issues InstitutionalizationInstitutionalization