Billy Thomas Extension Forester University of Kentucky Department of Forestry Extension

Overview Kentucky Woodland Owners – Who Kentucky Woodland Owners (Part 2) – What, Why and How Working with Interface Owners

Sources and Resources Changing Roles Program – National Woodland Owners Survey* – Brett Butler, et. al. and the USFS UK Forestry Contact Database* – KDF Case Records (M-30s) – County Extension Agents – Forestry Program Attendees and Contacts – Tree Seedling Sales *Represent best estimates but should not be considered absolutely 100% accurate –“close enough for government work”.

% of KY Woodland Owners by State Source: UK Forestry Contact Database

Estimated % of Forest Landowners by Zip Source: UK Forestry Contact Database

Absentee Owners by County Source: UK Forestry Contact Database

Absentee Property Locations Average distance from property to home is 42 miles. Source: UK Forestry Contact Database

Area of Family Woodlands (thousands of acres) by Owner Type and Tract Sizes Web citation: Butler, Brett J.; Miles, Patrick D.; Hansen, Mark H. National Woodland Owner Survey Tabler web- application version 1.0. Amherst, MA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station.

(thousands) #of Family Woodland Owners by Owner Type and Tract Sizes

Owner Age Classes Web citation: Butler, Brett J.; Miles, Patrick D.; Hansen, Mark H. National Woodland Owner Survey Tabler web- application version 1.0. Amherst, MA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station. Woodland Acres by Owner Age Class

# of Woodland Owners by Owner Age Class Web citation: Butler, Brett J.; Miles, Patrick D.; Hansen, Mark H. National Woodland Owner Survey Tabler web- application version 1.0. Amherst, MA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station. Owner Age Classes

Management Plan by Area of Woodland and Owner Age Class Web citation: Butler, Brett J.; Miles, Patrick D.; Hansen, Mark H. National Woodland Owner Survey Tabler web- application version 1.0. Amherst, MA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station.

Management Plan by # of Woodland Owners and Owner Age Class

KDF Forest Stewardship Program Forest Management Landowner Participation ( ) Source: UK Forestry Contact Database

KDF Forest Stewardship Program Wildlife Management Landowner Participation ( )

Source: UK Forestry Contact Database KDF Forest Stewardship Program Watershed Management Landowner Participation ( )

Source: UK Forestry Contact Database KDF Forest Stewardship Program Recreation Management Landowner Participation ( )

KDF Forestry Cost-Share Programs Landowner Participation ( ) Source: UK Forestry Contact Database

Reasons for Owning by Acre Size Classes Forest holdings - Size To enjoy beauty or scenery To protect nature and biologic diversity For land investment Part of home or vacation home Part of farm or ranch Privacy To pass land on to children or other heirs To cultivate or collect NTFP Production of firewood or biofuel Production of timber products Hunting or fishing For recreation other than hunting or fishing Other Total ac ac ac ac ac Web citation: Butler, Brett J.; Miles, Patrick D.; Hansen, Mark H. National Woodland Owner Survey Tabler web- application version 1.0. Amherst, MA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station. (thousands)

Activities on Woodlands (last 5 yrs) by Area and Income Web citation: Butler, Brett J.; Miles, Patrick D.; Hansen, Mark H. National Woodland Owner Survey Tabler web- application version 1.0. Amherst, MA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station.

Activities on Woodlands (last 5 yrs) by # of Owners and Income Web citation: Butler, Brett J.; Miles, Patrick D.; Hansen, Mark H. National Woodland Owner Survey Tabler web- application version 1.0. Amherst, MA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station.

Received Advice or Information (last 5 years) about Their Woodlands by Area and Owner Age Classes

Received Advice or Information (last 5 years) about Their Woodlands by # of Owners and Owner Age Classes Web citation: Butler, Brett J.; Miles, Patrick D.; Hansen, Mark H. National Woodland Owner Survey Tabler web- application version 1.0. Amherst, MA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station.

Concerns of Woodland Owners by # of Owners and Owner Age Class

Web citation: Butler, Brett J.; Miles, Patrick D.; Hansen, Mark H. Wed Jul 22 10:06:25 CDT National Woodland Owner Survey Tabler web-application version 1.0. Amherst, MA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station. [Available only on internet: Web citation: Butler, Brett J.; Miles, Patrick D.; Hansen, Mark H. National Woodland Owner Survey Tabler web- application version 1.0. Amherst, MA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station. Concerns of Woodland Owners by # Area and Owner Age Class

Future Intentions by Owner Age Class and Area of Woodlands (thousand acres) Age No plans ? Leave as is Min. Activity Firewood Timber NTFP Sell some or all Give some or all to heirs Subdivide some or all Buy more forest land Convert some or all Convert other land to forest Total 1, ,8712,6872,1001, , , < , Web citation: Butler, Brett J.; Miles, Patrick D.; Hansen, Mark H. National Woodland Owner Survey Tabler web- application version 1.0. Amherst, MA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station. (thousands)

Why care about interface owners? Many new interface residents are affluent, educated, and politically connected. Their environmental interests should make them willing clients for the advice and services of natural resource professionals. They are becoming a powerful political constituency… – affecting the funding and policies of public institutions – shaping local, state, and regional regulations for acceptable management practices. It is critical that natural resource professionals learn to work with these landowners.

Classifying New Interface Owners 1.Absentee investors. They express strong concerns about private property rights. Least likely to actively manage their lands because of lack of time to do so. 2.Career professional. Focus on career and professional development. Unlikely to engage in active management except planting vegetation for privacy. 3.Wildlife preservationists. Probably will not manage, except to improve wildlife habitat. They prefer to let nature take its course. 4.New pioneer farmers. Want to raise animals and grow food. They are the most eager of all landowners to engage in active management. 5.Planners. They actively manage their land and are willing to do more, but are hindered by lack of resources and know-how. 6.Young families. This group is motivated by quality of family/community life. Unlikely to actively manage their land, but they regularly inspect it. They “might” engage in management if they knew what to do. Kendra, A. and R. B. Hull “Motivations and Behaviors of New Forest Owners in Virginia.” Forest Science 51(2):

Preferred Sources of Information by Acres Owned Management - Information - Preferred sources Woodland Acres Publications, books, or pamphlets 2,337,000 Talking with a forester or other natural resource professional 1,972,000 Newsletters, magazines, or newspapers 1,831,000 Video tapes for home viewing 1,138,000 Television or radio programs 895,000 Internet 787,000 Visiting other woodlands or field trips 748,000 Talking with other woodland owners 741,000 Conferences, workshops, or video conferences 374,000 Talking with a logging contractor 351,000 Membership in a land owner organization 327,000 Web citation: Butler, Brett J.; Miles, Patrick D.; Hansen, Mark H. National Woodland Owner Survey Tabler web-application version 1.0. Amherst, MA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station.

Management - Information - Preferred sources Woodland Owners Publications, books, or pamphlets 102,000 Newsletters, magazines, or newspapers 85,000 Television or radio programs 57,000 Talking with a forester or other natural resource professional 45,000 Visiting other woodlands or field trips 40,000 Talking with other woodland owners 20,000 Internet 19,000 Video tapes for home viewing 18,000 Talking with a logging contractor 5,000 Membership in a land owner organization 5,000 Conferences, workshops, or video conferences 4,000 Preferred Sources of Information by # of Owners Web citation: Butler, Brett J.; Miles, Patrick D.; Hansen, Mark H. National Woodland Owner Survey Tabler web-application version 1.0. Amherst, MA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station.

% Change in Population April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2008 Source:

Considerations for Working in the Interface Different Objectives – Aesthetics/Recreation – Privacy! – Fire Concerns – Woodland Health – NTFP They may not know who you are or how you can help Building Trust Get Involved/Show a Commitment to the Community