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Social Pressures Affecting the Sustainability of Family Forests in the U.S. Brett J. Butler USDA Forest Service. 2004 Human Dimensions of Family and Farm Forestry Symposium. Outline. Forest ownership in the U.S. Social pressures Sustainability Global parallels and implications.
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Social Pressures Affecting the Sustainability of Family Forests in the U.S. Brett J. Butler USDA Forest Service 2004 Human Dimensions of Family and Farm Forestry Symposium
Outline • Forest ownership in the U.S. • Social pressures • Sustainability • Global parallels and implications
Who owns the family forests? • 9.6 million families and individuals • 57% own less than 10 acres • 45% are 65 or older
Why do they own it? • Home and privacy • Beauty and nature • Family legacy • Recreation • Land investment • Timber production
What do they intend to do with it? • Nothing • Harvesting • Land transfers • Land purchases • Land use conversions
Common Trends and Patterns • Changing demographics • Land transfers • Shifting ownership paradigms • Land use conversions • Forest management
Effect of Landholding Size on Forest Ownership & Management Timber Harvesting Ownership Objectives Management Plans
Social Shifting demographics Landowner turnover Economic Forest products markets Land markets Why are changes happening? Political • Tax policies • Land use policies
Effects on the sustainability of: • Forests • Family forests
Montreal Process Criteria and Indicators • Conservation of Biological Diversity • Maintenance of productive capacity of forest ecosystem • Maintenance of forest ecosystem health • Conservation and maintenance of soil and water resources • Maintenance of forest contribution to global carbon cycles • Maintenance and enhancement of long-term multiple socio-economic benefits to meet the needs of society • Legal, institutional and economic framework for forest conservation and sustainable management
Conclusions • Family forests in the U.S. are changing • Implications for other countries vary by ownership system • Globalization is affecting forests and forest owners
Questions? Brett Butler USDA Forest Service 11 Campus Blvd. Newtown Square, PA 19073 (610) 557-4045 bbutler01@fs.fed.us