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 organizations, clubs, Native 

American tribes, and 

others. 

Forty-four percent of 

forest land is publicly 

owned. The Federal government administers 76 percent of the 

public forest land. State forestry, 

park, and wildlife agencies 

account for most of the 21 percent 

of public forest land that is stateForests provide and protect most of the Nation’s 

fresh water. Forests supply habitats for wildlife and 

fish, give us and our kids a place to get in touch with 

nature, and help us address the challenges of climate 

change. Forested lands offer vital economic products 

and abundant opportunities for outdoor recreation, 

education, and solitude. 

And forests that are privately owned offer special 

rewards for their owners—from providing private, 

scenic spaces and places to hunt and fish or just enjoy 

nature, to being an important asset that can be passed 

on to future generations.

2 Who Owns America’s Forests? 

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.

Who Owns America’s Forests?

Why Do Forests Matter?
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 owner­ship 

and manage­ment 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. 

What Does the Future Hold?

6 Who Owns America’s Forests? 

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.

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.

4 Who Owns America’s Forests? 

© 1966 Richard Scarry

Every Acre Counts 

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

(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 

Are You a Family Forest Owner?
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.

4 Who Owns America’s Forests? 

© 1966 Richard Scarry

Every Acre Counts 

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

(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 

Are You a Family Forest Owner?
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 owner­ship 

and manage­ment 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. 

What Does the Future Hold?

6 Who Owns America’s Forests? 

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.

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 organizations, clubs, Native 

American tribes, and 

others. 

Forty-four percent of 

forest land is publicly 

owned. The Federal government administers 76 percent of the 

public forest land. State forestry, 

park, and wildlife agencies 

account for most of the 21 percent 

of public forest land that is stateForests provide and protect most of the Nation’s 

fresh water. Forests supply habitats for wildlife and 

fish, give us and our kids a place to get in touch with 

nature, and help us address the challenges of climate 

change. Forested lands offer vital economic products 

and abundant opportunities for outdoor recreation, 

education, and solitude. 

And forests that are privately owned offer special 

rewards for their owners—from providing private, 

scenic spaces and places to hunt and fish or just enjoy 

nature, to being an important asset that can be passed 

on to future generations.

2 Who Owns America’s Forests? 

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.

Who Owns America’s Forests?

Why Do Forests Matter?
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.