Family Forestry Concerns in Washington State Donald Hanley, PhD, WSU Extension Forester with additional slides by Creighton, Baumgartner, and Blatner Department of Natural Resource Sciences, Washington State University

The purpose of this presentation is to give you a brief overview of the educational and technical assistance program available to family forest landowners in the state.

Enjoy the Forest Experience and Observe Nature Understand the Ecological Web Understand the Interplay of Humans & Forests Make Decisions on Environmental Issues Be Responsible for the Future Become a Mentor Some Goals for Today Adapted from: NORWEGIAN FORESTRY EXTENSION INSTITUTE

We will NOT be talking about individual trees... Even though we know that these trees are some of the most important ones!

And sometimes they are just in the wrong place! Or they grow way too fast

20.7 MM Acres 49% 21.9 MM Acres 51% Total Area by Land Class Washington State Source: US Forest Service 1997, WFPA 2000

Families own 3.1 million acres (20% of forestland in WA.) Source: US Forest Service 1997

Family forest ownership in Washington is over 3.1 million acres! Can you visualize a parcel of land that is 3.1 million acres How far would a two mile-wide swath stretch from Seattle going East along I-90?

Over 2421 miles! From Seattle to Cleveland OH

Where are they located in the state?

These family forests have an enormous responsibility to steward the public resources of clean air and water – all the while providing significant wildlife habitat!

And this habitat comes in all shapes and sizes

Forest management challenges Forest conditions Resource protection  Fire  Insects  Disease Economic considerations Water quality Forest fragmentation Endangered species Ecosystem-based management

Challenges and Opportunities for Family Forest Owners “Most landowners want to do what is right for the land” Don Hanley, 1983 Estate Planning Regulatory Issues & Stability Management Planning & Implementation Insufficient Educational & Technical Assistance Opportunities Development Pressures Loss of Markets/Fluctuating Prices Recreational Demands

Who are they?

Average age of respondent: 57 years 85% Male 93% Caucasian 50% annual income of $50,000 Acreage owned Range from 1 to 10,000 acres Median parcel size: 40 acres Length of ownership Mean 23 years 50% reside on their property 50% absentee 48% live > 50 miles from forest property (Respondents N = 872)

Ownership Objectives

Table 2. Reasons for forestland ownership, ranked very important to somewhat important, given by NIPF landowners respondents, 1999 (n = 570). Primary Reason for ownershipVery to somewhat important Privacy88% Satisfaction from owning land88 Personal/Sentimental attachment to land87 Scenic beauty and aesthetics85 Provide wildlife habitat81 A legacy for my children77 Protect fisheries and wildlife73 Let nature take its course67 A place to hike and camp59 Income from timber48 Investment for future resale of land45 A place to hunt and fish34 Access to nearby recreation34 A place to ride motorbikes, etc.16 Eventual commercial development14 Income from hunting leases1

Average Harvest Volumes by Ownership Washington State (MMM BF)

Timber Harvesting When do you plan to harvest? Within the next 5 years24% Within 6 to 10 years 8% Possible at some future date28% No plans to harvest30% Unsure 9%

Landscape Perspective Statement Agree Forests and woodlands do not benefit the local community04% My land provides important habitat for wildlife88% Wetlands are of no benefit to others06% What my neighbor does on their land 15% does not affect me or my land My land is part of a much larger system73% What I do on my land affects others69% I would consider working with others if it meant the67% forest would be better off My land is not important to others20% My property is insignificant in the big picture of all the32% land in the county

Statement Agree Society has no responsibility to provide for future05% I have a responsibility to leave my land in at least as86% good a shape as I found it. What I do on my land will not matter in the long term15% My land should provide for the needs of future plant75% and animal species My land need not provide for the future13% Land is a testament to the previous owner66% Temporal Vision

Small Scale Issues

Long-term Problems: Trespassing Poaching Vandalism Illegal dumping Timber theft Non-timber theft Had a substantial fire (<10 yrs)

Conclusions Owners are more highly educated Owners are more affluent Owners are more highly computer literate than ever before Owners hold views on the environment and resource management similar to the public at large Many owners struggle to balance environment and other values against monetary concerns

Based on these Conclusions What Educational Assistance and Technical Assistance is Available?

Forest Stewardship Educational Program established 1989 We made the transition in 1989 from a “timber management only” program to one that gets family forest landowners interested in their forest ecosystem regardless of their ownership objectives. Timber management and other techniques are then used to help owners achieve their personal objectives.

The Forest Stewardship Educational Program is sponsored by these organizations working in partnership!

Backyard Forest Stewardship Program

Summer 2008 Twilight Tours – King County Examples

Publications vary from Songbirds to Tree Pruning to Harvesting Many available as pdf downloads for “free”

An “In the Woods Event”

Try these great websites! ext.nrs.wsu.edu

Washington DNR Website Best for technical assistance and regulatory information And to schedule a forester, wildlife biologist or forest health expert to visit your property

Another GREAT website is: A UW-CFR Educational Center

WSU Extension Forestry Website: ext.nrs.wsu.edu

For Additional Information Contact: Don Hanley – WSU Extension Forester College of Forest Resources University of Washington PO Box Seattle WA