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