National Woodland Owner Survey Brett J. Butler USDA Forest Service Northeastern Research Station Forest Inventory and Analysis Program NE Forest Inventory and Analysis Users’ Meeting Pittsburgh, PA May 3, 2005

2 National Woodland Owner Survey Objectives: Objectives: –Who are the landowners? –Why do they own land? –How do they use it? –How do they intend to use it? Random sample of private forest-land owners in the U.S. Random sample of private forest-land owners in the U.S. Self-administered mail questionnaire Self-administered mail questionnaire Annual design Annual design

3 Ownership Categories All Owners PublicPrivate FederalStateLocalNonindustrialIndustrial Other Forest industry Families and individuals Other

4 Forest Ownership

5 Source: Forest Resources of the United States, 2002

6 Forest Ownership, Pennsylvania Nonforest State game lands National Forest State forests Private

7 Who are the family forest owners? Number of owners Number of owners538,000 Forested acres owned Forested acres owned 10 million Education Education 54% some college Occupation Occupation 49% retired Average age Average age 61 years

8 What size holdings do they have?

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10 What is the relationship between forest management and size of forest holdings? Timber Harvesting Management Advice Written Management Plan

11 Why do they own forest land?

12 Forest Management Timber harvesting Timber harvesting –21% of family forest owners –38% of family forests Forest management plans Forest management plans –1% of family forest owners –6% of family forestland Professional assistance Professional assistance –8% of family forest owners –25% of family forestland

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

14 Trends in Forest Ownership Increased population pressures Increased population pressures Evolving role of investment organizations and traditional forest industry companies Evolving role of investment organizations and traditional forest industry companies Parcelization and consolidation Parcelization and consolidation Public lands increasing, but remaining relatively stable Public lands increasing, but remaining relatively stable Lack of management funds Lack of management funds High landowner turnover (families and individuals) High landowner turnover (families and individuals) Changing ownership objectives (families and individuals) Changing ownership objectives (families and individuals)

15 Data Distribution Journal articles Journal articles Forest Service publications Forest Service publications Web tools Web tools Other Other

16 The Future of the NWOS Annual design: Annual design: –Contact 7,500 landowners per year Remeasurement (5-10 years) Remeasurement (5-10 years) State-specific information State-specific information Distribution of data and results Distribution of data and results Increased analysis Increased analysis Refine and modify survey instrument Refine and modify survey instrument –Address more specific issues Institutionalization Institutionalization