America's family forest owners

Brett J. Butler; Earl C. Leatherberry

Treesearch

America's family forest owners

Informally Refereed

Authors:

Brett J. Butler, Earl C. Leatherberry

Year:

2004

Type:

Miscellaneous Publication

Station:

Northern Research Station

Source:

Journal of Forestry. 102(7):4-9.

Download (PDF 7.08 MB)

Download (PDF 7.08 MB): https://research.fs.usda.gov/download/treesearch/9398.pdf

Abstract

The number of family forest owners in the conterminous United States increased from 9.3 million in 1993 to 10.3 million in 2003, and these owners now control 42% of the nation's forestland. The reasons why people own forestland are diverse. Some of the more common ones are aesthetic enjoyment, the tract is part of a farm or homesite, and to pass the land on to heirs. Half of the family forest owners have harvested trees, but only 3% of them have a written forest-management plan. Trends in owners' ages and future land-use intentions suggest widescale transfers of family forestland in the near future.

Keywords

Nonindustrial private forests, small-scale forestry, landowner survey, forest inventory, National Woodland Owner Survey

Citation

Butler, Brett J.; Leatherberry, Earl C. 2004. America''s family forest owners. Journal of Forestry. 102(7):4-9.