1. Factors Influencing Conservation of Family Forests Brett J. Butler U.S. Forest Service Forest Land Conservation in the 21 st Century Symposium New Haven, CT June 7-8, 2011

2. 2 Conclusions Family forest owners rule! Size matters Beauty, legacy, and privacy To manage or not to manage? They’re a bunch of old guys Family forest owners don’t own forests

3. 3 According to 1,000 likely voters: Who owns most of the forests in the U.S.? A.U.S. Government B.Forest industry C.Family forest owners

4. 4 Forest Ownership in the U.S., 2006 U.S. Forest Service, National Woodland Owner Survey

5. 5

6. Who are family forest owners?

7. 7 National Woodland Owner Survey To better understand: Who the landowners are Why they own land How they have used it How they intend to use it Conducted by the U.S. Forest Service, Forest Inventory and Analysis program

8. 8 National Woodland Owner Survey Family Forests Owners of the United States, 2006 (NRS-GTR-27) NWOS Table Maker www.fia.fs.fed.us/nwos

9. Size Matters

10. 10 Size of Family Forest Holdings U.S. Forest Service, National Woodland Owner Survey

11. Beauty, Legacy, & Privacy

12. 12 Family Forest Ownership Objectives U.S. Forest Service, National Woodland Owner Survey

13. 13 Family Forest Ownership Objectives U.S. Forest Service, National Woodland Owner Survey

14. To Manage or Not to Manage – That is the Question

15. 15 Timber harvesting 57% of family forestland Forest management plan 18% of family forestland Management advice 37% of family forestland Management of Family Forests U.S. Forest Service, National Woodland Owner Survey

16. They are a Bunch of Old Guys

17. 17 Age: 44% 65 or older Occupation: 51% retired Gender: 85% male Race: 97% white Education: 41% college degree Demographics of Family Forest Owners U.S. Forest Service, National Woodland Owner Survey

18. 18 Plans for Family Forestland U.S. Forest Service, National Woodland Owner Survey

19. 19 Concerns 1.Family legacy 2.Insects and plant diseases 3.Fire 4.Trespassing 5.Property taxes U.S. Forest Service, National Woodland Owner Survey

20. Words Matter Very few forest owners own any forest – Trees, Woods, Wildlife Richard Scarry Sustaining Family Forests Initiative 20

21. Traditional “Solutions” 1.Working forests 2.Management plans 3.Cost share 4.Conservation easements 5.Preferential tax programs 21

22. New “Solutions” 1.Health care 2.Succession planning 3.Suburban forestry 4.Peer to peer 5.Ecosystem services 22

23. Forest Health-Human Health Initiative The Pinchot Institute for Conservation 23 Insurance Provider Forest Owner (& Offspring) Forest Health Human Health Carbon Investor

24. Forest Health-Human Health Initiative The Pinchot Institute for Conservation 24 Insurance Provider Community Health Facility Forestland Aggregator Forestland Owner (and Offspring) Carbon Contract Woody Biomass Forest Health Human Health Carbon Investor

25. 25 Conclusions Family forest owners rule! Size matters Beauty, legacy, and privacy To manage or not to manage? They’re a bunch of old guys Family forest owners don’t own forests

26. Comments or questions? Brett Butler U.S. Forest Service, Amherst, MA bbutler01@fs.fed.us www.fia.fs.fed.us/nwos www.FamilyForestResearchCenter.org 26