Pennsylvania’s Private Forest Owners and The Issues They Face Jim Finley School of Forest Resources Penn State University

What We’ll Cover ► A bit of PA Forest History ► PA’s Forest Owners ► Issues  Harvesting  Regeneration  Challenges  Looking Forward ► Finding Assistance

Pennsylvania is 58 percent forested 16.6 Million acres

Pennsylvania Forestland Area by Year

PA Forest Land Change

Who Owns the Forest?

Public Forests ► ► ~30% of Pennsylvania Forests ► ► 5 Million Acres ► ► Managed Publicly   Local, State, or Federal   Legislative direction   Public/Scientific input   Balancing multiple objectives

Private Forests ► ► ~70% of Pennsylvania Forests ► ► 12 Million Acres ► ► Managed Privately   Each individual landowner   Personal decisions   Few long-term plans   Little input from foresters

Results ► ► Distribution of owners Statewide (GIS Counties) ► Distribution of acres

General Characteristics ► ► 84% Male; 16% Female ► ► Average age: 61   38% retired ► ► Educated   22% 2-yr degree   23% 4-yr degree   20% Advanced degree ► ► Politically conservative   30% “moderate”   59% “moderate conservative” or “conservative”

General Characteristics ► ► Mostly rural   Own land in more rural areas than where they live ► ► Most live close   70% live within 10 miles ► ► Most post   58% post their forestland   Many would allow certain activities, if asked ► ► Most financially well-off, some diversity   20% earn < $35,000/yr   33% earn > $100,000/yr

Urbanization ParcelizationFragmentation

Results: State PFL Population ACRESOWNERS , , , , Total 44, ,000

Results: Forestland Distribution ► ► Urban/Suburban Counties   Small holdings = 50% of forestland ► ► Rural Counties   Small holdings = 15% of forestland ► ► County-based sample allows for regional analysis and subsequent outreach programming

Getting Started ► Forest Stewardship Plan  Define your objectives   Seek professional assistance.   Know what you have and where it is   Formulate a ten-year schedule   Review your plan frequently

Harvesting Practices ► ► 48% have harvested   Mostly firewood ► ► 11% harvested commercially   Represents 26% of private forestland Size of Forest (Acres) Harvested Commercially 1-106% % % % % % % %

Harvesting Perceptions ► ► Overwhelmingly happy with harvests   69.2% “Happy” or “Very Happy” ► ► Describe outcome of harvest   Everything looks good   Trees that were left look healthy   Given time, remaining trees will be large/valuable ► ► Most willing to harvest   54.2% “willing” or “very willing”   17.2 % “opposed” or “very opposed”

Harvesting Perceptions ► ► Most harvest managed by the landowner   20% involved a forester   44% managed the harvest themselves ► ► Key misconceptions about forest ecology   Tree size is a good indicator of tree age   Cutting large trees is the best approach   Ferns do not threaten forest ecosystems   Deer eat ferns

Harvesting Practices ► ► Reasons for harvesting:   Improve growing conditions for remaining trees   Trees were “mature”   Salvage   Wildlife ► ► Descriptions of harvests:   49.6% “Cut most of the large trees” or “Cut a few select large trees”   Translation: Diameter limit

Simply Silviculture Is: What you establish Regeneration What you leave Residual

All Species White Ash Black Cherry Sugar Maple NUMBEROFTREES DIAMETER 12 Inch Diameter Cut

Sawtimber Red Maple Northern red oak Black cherry Eastern Hemlock Chestnut oak Sugar maple White oak White ash Black birch White pine Thousands of Trees Shifting Species Composition

Desirable Commercial 36 % 50 % Interpretation: Desirable: about two-thirds would likely fail to regenerate. Commercial: half would likely fail. Samples Meeting Regeneration Criteria, Timber Management (Samples from 40% to 75% Stocked – High Deer)

Samples Meeting Regeneration Criteria, Timber Management (Samples from 40% to 75% Stocked – High Deer) 0 – 33% 34-66%67+% Wildlife Management Units No Data 16%

Invasive Plants ► Tree of heaven ► Japanese knotweed ► Mile-a-minute weed ► Bush honeysuckle ► Garlic mustard ► Oriental bittersweet ► Multiflora rose ► Japanese stilt grass

Exotic Insects and Diseases ► Gypsy Moth ► Hemlock Wooly Adelgid ► Asian Longhorned Beetle ► Emerald Ash Borer ► Sudden Oak Death Syndrome (SODS)

Competitive Plants ► ► Ferns   Hayscented   New York   Bracken ► ► Mountain Laurel ► ► Stripped Maple ► ► Beech Brush ► ► Grapevines

Forest Benefits ► ► Management and use   Recreation besides hunting (74.4%)   Hunting (74%)   Improve wildlife habitat (69%)   Harvest non-timber forest products (43.6%)

Wildlife Is Number One! ► Species of Interest ► Habitat Needs  Cover  Food  Water  Space ► Think Beyond Boundaries

Markets ► Competitive / Diverse ► Demand Driven  Bidding  Knowledge ► Known for High Quality ► Species Value Fluctuates ► Private Owners Essential  Limited Experience

Financials ► Income Taxes  Capital Gains  Ordinary Income  Expensing ► Land Taxes ► Inheritance Taxes

Estate Planning ► ► Transfer of property   Leave to more than one child (55.3%)   Subdivide and/or sell (44.7%)   Establish a trust or conservation easement (34%)

Access ► Land Maintenance ► Recreation Access ► Trespass ► Temporary/Permanent Roads ► Use BMPs  Protect Water  Follow Regulations

Finding Assistance ► Bureau of Forestry ► Private Natural Resource Consultants ► Forest Industry ► Conservation Districts ► Woodland Owner Assoc.  Pa. Forestry Assoc.  County groups ► Penn State Extension

What We’ve Covered ► A bit of PA Forest History ► PA’s Forest Owners ► Issues  Harvesting  Regeneration  Challenges  Looking Forward ► Finding Assistance

Contact Information: Jim Finley Penn State University School of Forest Resources 302 Forest Resources Building University Park, PA Phone: Web Resources: RNRext.cas.psu.edu

Publication Links ► Forest Stewardship Bulletin 2: Sources of Information and Guidance for Forest Stewards ► Forest Stewardship Bulletin 6: Planning Your Forest’s Future ► Best Management Practices ► Timber Market Report