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The Story of the National Woodland Owner Survey

Explore the official statistics of the nation's forest owners and their characteristics. Understand the research findings and conclusions about family forest owners, amenity values, landowner demographics, and the need for continued research and support.

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The Story of the National Woodland Owner Survey

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  1. The Story of the National Woodland Owner Survey The official statistics of the nation’s forest owners

  2. Conclusions – Research Findings • Family forest owners rule! • Amenity values dominate • Landowners are old • Most owners are not being reached

  3. Conclusions – Research Directions • Modules • Base • Science • Urban • Corporate • Annualize • Intensification and customization • Tools and integration • All lands survey

  4. Conclusions – Research Needs • Continued financial support • More landowner program evaluation • More research coordination

  5. The Ownership of Small Private Forest-land Holdings in 23 New England Towns (1948) • First (?) forestland owner survey in US • Conclusions • Most forestland in small private holdings • Most not well managed • Timber value is important to owners

  6. Ownership of Forest Land and Timber (1953) • First national forest ownership report • Very limited data • Conclusions • Most commercial forestland in small private holdings • Many own for reasons other than timber • Farmers predominate • Most private forests are young stands

  7. The Private Forest-land Owners of the United States (1978) • Appended to an Economic Research Service survey • Conclusions • Most commercial forestland privately owned • 16% are farmers • Most are white, male, over 50, and live in the county • 48% of private forestland owned by <1% of owners

  8. Private Forest-land Owners of the United States (1993) • First “modern” national forest ownership survey • Conclusions • Most forests are privately owned • 45% of acreage in holdings 500+ ac • 40% of owners acquired land in previous 15 years • 5% have management plans

  9. Family Forest Owners of the United States (2006) • First to be fully integrated with FIA sampling grid • Added depth • Conclusions • 35% of forestland owned by family forest owners • 61% of family forest owners own <10 ac • 53% of family forest land in holdings of 100+ ac • Most common reasons for owning are beauty, legacy, privacy, and nature

  10. Family Forest Owners of the United States (2006) • Conclusions (cont.) • 58% have commercially harvested trees • 20% have a management plan • Major concerns include insects, keeping land intact, fire, trespassing, and property taxes • 20% owned by someone planning to sell or transfer in next 5 years • Most owners are older, white, male, well educated, and relatively wealthy

  11. Family Forest Owners of the United States (2013) • First set of remeasured data • Conclusions • 36% of forestland owned by family forest owners • 62% of ownerships have holdings <10 acres • 56% of acres owned by ownerships with 100+ acres • The most common reasons for owning are beauty, privacy, wildlife, and nature

  12. Family Forest Owners of the United States (2013) • Conclusions (cont.) • 13% have a management plan • 20% have received management advice • 48% owned by people 65+

  13. Forest Ownership in the USA Family Federal Corporate State Other private Local

  14. Forest Ownership in the USA

  15. NWOS 2013 Basic FindingsFamily Forest Ownerships with 10+ ac • Area: 265 million ac • Ownerships: 4.0 million • Average holding size: 65.8 ac • Primary reasons for owning: beauty, wildlife, privacy, and nature • Management plans: 13% • Average age: 62.6 yrs

  16. Family Forest Ownership Generational Shifts

  17. Family Forest Ownership Gender Trends

  18. NWOS 2013 Methods • Implemented from 2011 to 2013 • Based on FIA sampling grid • Self-administered mail back survey • 37 questions • Across 50 states • 8,576 respondents • Cooperation rate of 51.6%

  19. NWOS 2013 Products • Journal of Forestry • Forest Service Resource Bulletin • 2,000+ tables • NWOS Table Maker • Two-page state summaries • Brochure • Scientific articles

  20. NWOS 2018 Increased Content Improved Methods Annual Faster results Documentation Database Better FIA integration Tools • Urban survey • Large corporate survey • Science Modules • State intensification • Longitudinal • US territories

  21. NWOS 2020 and Beyond • All lands • All land uses • Forest • Agriculture • Urban • All ownerships • Family and individual • Large corporate • Other private • Tribal • Public

  22. Portfolios • Base National Woodland Owner Survey • Urban Landowner Survey • Corporate Forestland Owner Survey • NWOS in territories and protectorates • Tools and integration • State intensifications • Science modules • All Landowners Survey

  23. Family Forest Research Center Team NWOS Core Team • Brett Butler • Sarah Butler • Jesse Caputo • Amanda Robillard

  24. Conclusions – Research Findings • Family forest owners rule! • Amenity values dominate • Landowners are old • Most owners are not being reached

  25. Conclusions – Research Directions • Modules • Base • Science • Urban • Corporate • Annualize • Intensification and customization • Tools and integration • All lands survey

  26. Conclusions – Research Needs • Continued financial support • More landowner program evaluation • More research coordination

  27. Comments or Questions? Brett Butler U.S. Forest Service, Amherst, MA USA bbutler01@fs.fed.us; 413.545.1387 www.fia.fs.fed.us/nwos www.FamilyForestResearchCenter.org

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