# Forest Ownership Patterns and Family Forest Highlights from the National Woodland Owner Survey

Northern Research Station NRS-INF-06-08 May 2008 United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service The figure on the top of page 4 is from Richard Scarry’s Best Picture Book Ever by Richard Scarry, copyright © 1966, renewed 1994 by Richard Scarry. Used by permission of Golden Books, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books, a division of Random House, Inc. 

### This report highlights general ownership patterns and key information about family forest owners from the National Woodland Owner Survey, which is conducted by the U.S. Forest Service, to help us better understand:

• Who owns the forests of the United States

• Why they own land

• How they use it now

• How they intend to use it We focus on family forest owners because they account for the 92 percent of all private forest
owners.

Unless noted otherwise, figures generally are for the conterminous (lower 48) United States. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or part of an individual’s income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination, write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

### Fifty-six percent of the 751 million acres of forest land in the United States is privately owned. Of this private forest land, 62 percent is owned by families and individuals in what we call “family forests.” The remaining private forest land is owned by corporations, conservation organiza

tions, clubs, Native American tribes, and others. Forty-four percent of forest land is publicly owned. The Federal govern

ment administers 76 percent of the public forest land. State forestry, park, and wildlife agencies account for most of the 21 percentof public forest land that is state

### America’s forests reflect the remarkable diversity and complexity of both their landscapes and their owners. Most of the forests are private, and most of those are family forests. Many attitudes, behaviors, and concerns are shared by family forest owners, who commonly take great satisfaction in the beauty and privacy that their forests provide and the family heritage that they represent. Yet every family forest owner has a unique set of circumstances and faces individual challenges. If the size of forest holdings continues to decrease in the future, as current trends suggest, there will be changes in how the land is viewed and how it is managed. On one hand, more people owning and living on forest land can mean increased personal awareness and appreciation for forests. On the other hand, smaller forests may offer fewer opportunities for certain activities, such as traditional forestry, collection of nontimber forest products, and recreation. Smaller forests may also become more vulnerable to weeds, wildfires, development, and other challenges. Clearly, forest owners can benefit from suitable services and resources that help ensure their forests and their goals can be sustained into the future.

For more results from this survey, visit the Forest Service’s National Woodland Owner Survey website at www.fia.fs.fed.us/nwos or contact: U.S. Forest Service National Woodland Owner Survey 160 Holdsworth Way, Amherst, MA 01003 Phone: 413-545-1387

nwos@fs.fed.us

To learn more about the services and resources available to forest owners in your state, contact your local forestry agency or association. 

### owned. The remaining 3 percent of the public forest land is owned by local governments, such as counties and towns. America’s 10 million family forest

owners are diverse, dynamic, and

numerous. They are pivotal for the protection and sustainable management of our forests across the landscape, yet they face ever-increasing pressures and challenges. Better understanding of their needs and concerns can help foster better forest policies, more effective services and programs, and increased public awareness of the importance of family forests.

### Most family forest owners plan minimal activity on their forest land in the next 5 years. However, 1 in 5 acres is owned by people who plan to sell or transfer some or all of their forest land in the next 5 years. Changes in land owne r­ ship and manag e­ ment are likely to occur as land is passed from one generation to the next. A third of family forest owners are 65 years or older.

Percentage of family forest land and family forest owners by plans for the next 5 years. Future plans vary but most owners plan little to no activity. More than half the forest land in the United States (423 million acres)—mostly located in the East—is owned and managed by some 11 million private forest owners. Of those private forest owners, 92 percent (10 million owners) are classified as “family forest” owners.

Acreage and Ownership of America’s Family Forests Size of Forest Holdings Number of Acres Number of Ownerships Acres Thousands Thousands

1-9 19,158 6,221 10-49 58,585 2,832 50-99 41,562 644 100-999 97,667 508 1,000+ 35,003 19 Total 251,974 10,223 Percentage of family forest land and family forest owners by owner age. One in 5 acres of family forest land is owned by someone who is at least 75 years of age. Forest Ownership in the Coterminous United States, 2006

Data sources:

Forest area - USGS National Land Cover Database 2001 Ownership - CBI Protected Areas Database, Version 4.0 State and countries - ESRI Data & Maps 2006 Produced by: US Forest Service, Northern Research Station Forest Inventory and Analysis, Family Forest Research Center Brett J. Butler (17-Oct-07)

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35%

<45 45-54 55-64 65-74 75+ Owner age (years) Area Owners 0% 25% 50% 75% 100% Other Collect non-timber forest products Buy more forest land Transfer to heirs

and/or sell Harvest timber Harvest firewood

None/minimal

activity

Owners
Area

0% 25% 50% 75% 100% Owners Area

### Whether you have “just trees” that shelter native plants and animals, a bit of “woods” behind your house where the kids play and you cut firewood, or a “tree farm” that earns your family income ... if you have an acre or more of land with trees on at least 10 percent of it, you have a forest. If you own that forest as an individual, a couple, a family partnership, or some other grouping of unincorporated individuals, you are a family forest owner.

Most of the family forest acreage is in holdings of 100 or more acres, but a lot of family forest owners (some 61 percent) own fewer than 10 acres of forest land. The size of the forest can make a difference in owner attitudes, behaviors, and intentions.

Percentage of family forest land and family forest owners who rated (A) timber production, and (B) enjoyment of beauty and scenery as very important or important reasons for owning their forest land. Some management objectives “such as timber production” varied widely depending on the size of the forest, but many values, such as scenic beauty, were shared by owners of forests of all sizes. 

### Issues or Concerns
1 Insects or tree diseases 2 Keeping land intact for future generations 3 Wildfire
4 Trespassing 5 High property taxes 6 Vandalism or illegal dumping
7 Wind or ice storms 8 Air or water pollution 9 Undesirable plants and weeds 10 Development of nearby lands



### Whatever the reasons for owning family forests, adequate planning and consideration of various management practices can help support the desired activities over time. Yet we found that only 1 in 5 acres of family forest land is owned by someone who has a written forest management plan, and only 2 in 5 acres are owned by people who have received forest management advice. Reasons for Owning Family Forests
1 Beauty and scenery 2 Family heritage 3 Privacy 4 Nature protection 5 Connected to home or cabin 6 Investment
7 Hunting or fishing 8 Part of farm or ranch 9 Hiking, snowmobiling, and other recreation 10 Timber production

Percentage of family forest land and family forest owners who have (A) a written forest management plan, and (B) received forest management advice, by size of forest holdings.© 1966 Richard Scarry

trees woods

forest

0% 25% 50% 75% 100% 1-9 10-49 50-99 100-999 1,000+Size of forest holdings (ac)

Owners Area (A) Forest management plan

0% 25% 50% 75% 100% 1-9 10-49 50-99 100-999 1,000+Size of forest holdings (ac)

Owners Area (B) Forest management advice

0% 25% 50% 75% 100% 1-9 10-49 50-99 100-999 1,000+Size of forest holdings (ac) Owners Area (B) Beauty and Scenery

0% 25% 50% 75% 100% 1-9 10-49 50-99 100-999 1,000+Size of forest holdings (ac)

Owners Area (A) Timber Production

### Whether you have “just trees” that shelter native plants and animals, a bit of “woods” behind your house where the kids play and you cut firewood, or a “tree farm” that earns your family income ... if you have an acre or more of land with trees on at least 10 percent of it, you have a forest. If you own that forest as an individual, a couple, a family partnership, or some other grouping of unincorporated individuals, you are a family forest owner.

Most of the family forest acreage is in holdings of 100 or more acres, but a lot of family forest owners (some 61 percent) own fewer than 10 acres of forest land. The size of the forest can make a difference in owner attitudes, behaviors, and intentions.

Percentage of family forest land and family forest owners who rated (A) timber production, and (B) enjoyment of beauty and scenery as very important or important reasons for owning their forest land. Some management objectives “such as timber production” varied widely depending on the size of the forest, but many values, such as scenic beauty, were shared by owners of forests of all sizes. 

### Issues or Concerns
1 Insects or tree diseases 2 Keeping land intact for future generations 3 Wildfire
4 Trespassing 5 High property taxes 6 Vandalism or illegal dumping
7 Wind or ice storms 8 Air or water pollution 9 Undesirable plants and weeds 10 Development of nearby lands



### Whatever the reasons for owning family forests, adequate planning and consideration of various management practices can help support the desired activities over time. Yet we found that only 1 in 5 acres of family forest land is owned by someone who has a written forest management plan, and only 2 in 5 acres are owned by people who have received forest management advice. Reasons for Owning Family Forests
1 Beauty and scenery 2 Family heritage 3 Privacy 4 Nature protection 5 Connected to home or cabin 6 Investment
7 Hunting or fishing 8 Part of farm or ranch 9 Hiking, snowmobiling, and other recreation 10 Timber production

Percentage of family forest land and family forest owners who have (A) a written forest management plan, and (B) received forest management advice, by size of forest holdings.© 1966 Richard Scarry

trees woods

forest

0% 25% 50% 75% 100% 1-9 10-49 50-99 100-999 1,000+Size of forest holdings (ac)

Owners Area (A) Forest management plan

0% 25% 50% 75% 100% 1-9 10-49 50-99 100-999 1,000+Size of forest holdings (ac)

Owners Area (B) Forest management advice

0% 25% 50% 75% 100% 1-9 10-49 50-99 100-999 1,000+Size of forest holdings (ac) Owners Area (B) Beauty and Scenery

0% 25% 50% 75% 100% 1-9 10-49 50-99 100-999 1,000+Size of forest holdings (ac)

Owners Area (A) Timber Production

### Most family forest owners plan minimal activity on their forest land in the next 5 years. However, 1 in 5 acres is owned by people who plan to sell or transfer some or all of their forest land in the next 5 years. Changes in land owne r­ ship and manag e­ ment are likely to occur as land is passed from one generation to the next. A third of family forest owners are 65 years or older.

Percentage of family forest land and family forest owners by plans for the next 5 years. Future plans vary but most owners plan little to no activity. More than half the forest land in the United States (423 million acres)—mostly located in the East—is owned and managed by some 11 million private forest owners. Of those private forest owners, 92 percent (10 million owners) are classified as “family forest” owners.

Acreage and Ownership of America’s Family Forests Size of Forest Holdings Number of Acres Number of Ownerships Acres Thousands Thousands

1-9 19,158 6,221 10-49 58,585 2,832 50-99 41,562 644 100-999 97,667 508 1,000+ 35,003 19 Total 251,974 10,223 Percentage of family forest land and family forest owners by owner age. One in 5 acres of family forest land is owned by someone who is at least 75 years of age. Forest Ownership in the Coterminous United States, 2006

Data sources:

Forest area - USGS National Land Cover Database 2001 Ownership - CBI Protected Areas Database, Version 4.0 State and countries - ESRI Data & Maps 2006 Produced by: US Forest Service, Northern Research Station Forest Inventory and Analysis, Family Forest Research Center Brett J. Butler (17-Oct-07)

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35%

<45 45-54 55-64 65-74 75+ Owner age (years) Area Owners 0% 25% 50% 75% 100% Other Collect non-timber forest products Buy more forest land Transfer to heirs

and/or sell Harvest timber Harvest firewood

None/minimal

activity

Owners
Area

0% 25% 50% 75% 100% Owners Area

### Fifty-six percent of the 751 million acres of forest land in the United States is privately owned. Of this private forest land, 62 percent is owned by families and individuals in what we call “family forests.” The remaining private forest land is owned by corporations, conservation organiza

tions, clubs, Native American tribes, and others. Forty-four percent of forest land is publicly owned. The Federal govern

ment administers 76 percent of the public forest land. State forestry, park, and wildlife agencies account for most of the 21 percentof public forest land that is state

### America’s forests reflect the remarkable diversity and complexity of both their landscapes and their owners. Most of the forests are private, and most of those are family forests. Many attitudes, behaviors, and concerns are shared by family forest owners, who commonly take great satisfaction in the beauty and privacy that their forests provide and the family heritage that they represent. Yet every family forest owner has a unique set of circumstances and faces individual challenges. If the size of forest holdings continues to decrease in the future, as current trends suggest, there will be changes in how the land is viewed and how it is managed. On one hand, more people owning and living on forest land can mean increased personal awareness and appreciation for forests. On the other hand, smaller forests may offer fewer opportunities for certain activities, such as traditional forestry, collection of nontimber forest products, and recreation. Smaller forests may also become more vulnerable to weeds, wildfires, development, and other challenges. Clearly, forest owners can benefit from suitable services and resources that help ensure their forests and their goals can be sustained into the future.

For more results from this survey, visit the Forest Service’s National Woodland Owner Survey website at www.fia.fs.fed.us/nwos or contact: U.S. Forest Service National Woodland Owner Survey 160 Holdsworth Way, Amherst, MA 01003 Phone: 413-545-1387

nwos@fs.fed.us

To learn more about the services and resources available to forest owners in your state, contact your local forestry agency or association. 

### owned. The remaining 3 percent of the public forest land is owned by local governments, such as counties and towns. America’s 10 million family forest

owners are diverse, dynamic, and

numerous. They are pivotal for the protection and sustainable management of our forests across the landscape, yet they face ever-increasing pressures and challenges. Better understanding of their needs and concerns can help foster better forest policies, more effective services and programs, and increased public awareness of the importance of family forests.

# Forest Ownership Patterns and Family Forest Highlights from the National Woodland Owner Survey

Northern Research Station NRS-INF-06-08 May 2008 United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service The figure on the top of page 4 is from Richard Scarry’s Best Picture Book Ever by Richard Scarry, copyright © 1966, renewed 1994 by Richard Scarry. Used by permission of Golden Books, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books, a division of Random House, Inc. 

### This report highlights general ownership patterns and key information about family forest owners from the National Woodland Owner Survey, which is conducted by the U.S. Forest Service, to help us better understand:

• Who owns the forests of the United States

• Why they own land

• How they use it now

• How they intend to use it We focus on family forest owners because they account for the 92 percent of all private forest
owners.

Unless noted otherwise, figures generally are for the conterminous (lower 48) United States. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or part of an individual’s income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination, write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.