United States 

Department of 

Agriculture

USDA Forest Service 

National Woodland Owner Survey

A Technical Document Supporting the Forest Service

Update of the 2010 RPA Assessment 

Brett J. Butler, Jaketon H. Hewes, Brenton J. Dickinson, Kyle Andrejczyk, 

Sarah M. Butler, and Marla Markowski-Lindsay

Forest 

Service

Resource Bulletin 

NRS–99 -

March 2016
Abstract

This report summarizes the results from the 2011-2013 National Woodland Owner Survey 

(NWOS) conducted by the U.S. Forest Service, Forest Inventory and Analysis program. The 

focus of the results reported here is family forest and woodland ownerships with holdings 

of at least 10 acres. Summaries are based on responses from 8,576 family ownerships with 

at least 10 acres of forest or woodland across 47 U.S. states. Survey summary tables are 

available at dx.doi.org/10.2737/NRS-RB-99 and include the 36 states in which the minimum 

target effective sample size of 100 respondents was obtained plus tables for the nation 

and four regions (North, South, Rocky Mountain, and Pacific Coast). An additional 11 states 

(Arizona, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South 

Dakota, Utah, and Washington) have sample sizes between 10 and 99 and are included in 

national and regional summary tables, but state-level survey summary tables are not being 

published due to small sample sizes. Data for three states (Alaska, Nevada, and Wyoming) 

are excluded due to the low numbers of respondents (n<10) in each of these states. The 

survey summary tables provide statistics on general forest ownership patterns, effective 

sample sizes, and responses to the questions asked on the survey. The 37 survey questions, 

many with multiple parts, focus on ownership characteristics, land characteristics, reasons 

for owning land, land ownership history, uses of the forest and woodland, sources of 

information, concerns, the future of their land, and demographics. For comparison purposes, 

summary tables from the 2002-2006 iteration of the NWOS are provided along with an 

additional set of 2011-2013 regional and national summary tables where only states in 

common with the 2002-2006 iteration are included. In addition, this report includes separate 

tables with estimated area and estimated number of private, nonindustrial private, and 

family forest and woodland ownerships by state. 

BRETT J. BUTLER is a research forester, U.S. Forest Service, Northern Research Station, 160 

Holdsworth Way, Amherst, MA 01003, bbutler01@fs.fed.us. 

JAKETON H. HEWES is the research coordinator for the Family Forest Research Center, 

University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA 01003.

BRENTON J. DICKINSON and KYLE ANDREJCZYK are former research fellows with the Family 

Forest Research Center, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA 01003.

SARAH M. BUTLER and MARLA MARKOWSKI-LINDSAY are research fellows with the Family 

Forest Research Center, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, 01003.

Manuscript received for publication 31 March 2015

Published by

U.S. FOREST SERVICE

11 CAMPUS BLVD SUITE 200

NEWTOWN SQUARE PA 19073

March 2016
USDA Forest Service National Woodland Owner Survey: 

National, Regional, and State Statistics for Family Forest 

and Woodland Ownerships with 10+ acres, 2011-2013

A Technical Document Supporting the Forest Service Update of the 2010 

RPA Assessment

Brett J. Butler, Jaketon H. Hewes, Brenton J. Dickinson, Kyle Andrejczyk, 

Sarah M. Butler, and Marla Markowski-Lindsay

Resource Bulletin NRS-99
In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil 

rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions 

participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on 

race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including gender expression), sexual 

orientation, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public 

assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in 

any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). 

Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident.

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program 

information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact 

the responsible Agency or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact 

USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information 

may be made available in languages other than English. 

To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination 

Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.

html and at any USDA office or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of 

the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-

9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by: (1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, 

Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, 

D.C. 20250-9410; (2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or (3) email: program.intake@usda.gov.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.
Contents

Introduction ....................................................................................................................................... 1

Methods............................................................................................................................................... 3

Sample Design ............................................................................................................................ 3

Survey Implementation........................................................................................................... 3

Population-level Estimates..................................................................................................... 4

Results.................................................................................................................................................. 4

Number of Respondents and Cooperation Rates........................................................... 4

Comparisons Between Survey Iterations........................................................................... 6

Survey Summary Table Descriptions................................................................................... 6

Other NWOS Resources................................................................................................................10

Glossary .............................................................................................................................................11

References.........................................................................................................................................12

National Forest and Woodland Ownership Tables.............................................................14

Supplemental Data................................................................dx.doi.org/10.2737/NRS-RB-99
Page intentionally left blank
1

INTRODUCTION

A summary of the results from the 2011-2013 iteration of the U.S. Forest Service’s National 

Woodland Owner Survey (NWOS) are presented here. The NWOS is coordinated by the 

U.S. Forest Service, Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) program and serves as a social 

complement to FIA’s biophysical, plot-based inventory (Bechtold and Patterson 2005). The 

NWOS is aimed at understanding: who owns America’s forests, why they own them, how 

they have used them in the past, and how they intend to use them in the future. The design, 

implementation, and analysis of the 2011-2013 NWOS were completed through the Family 

Forest Research Center, a joint venture between the U.S. Forest Service and the University of 

Massachusetts Amherst.

Information presented supports the U.S. Forest Service update of the 2010 Resources 

Planning Act (RPA) Assessment. The RPA Assessment consists of a series of reports that are 

produced on a periodic basis under the congressional direction of the Forest and Rangeland 

Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 (Public Law 93-378, 88 Stat. 476). Full 

assessments are completed every decade with updates done at intervening 5-year intervals. 

The main 2010 RPA Assessment report for forest resources is Smith et al. (2009) and the 

accompanying NWOS report is Butler (2008). The main forest resource report for the 

update to the 2010 RPA Assessment is Oswalt et al. (2014), and this report is the NWOS 

contribution to the update.

The primary intent of this report is to provide tabular summaries for the 2011-2013 iteration 

of the NWOS. Therefore, only an abbreviated description of the methods is included, and 

no analyses of the data are provided. Detailed documentation of the methods is available 

in Butler et al. (2016), and interpretation of the results and general findings will appear in 

forthcoming analytical publications, including Butler et al. (n.d.a.). Definitions of ownership 

categories used in this report, including family forest and woodland ownerships, are included 

in the glossary along with definitions of other key terms, such as forest land and woodland.

Although they use the same underlying FIA plot data, there are differences between the 

current RPA and FIA definitions of forest land (Oswalt et al. 2014). The update to the 2010 

RPA Assessment forest resource uses the terms “forest” and “other wooded lands,” which is 

often simplified to “forest and woodland” and follows the international definition used by 

the Food and Agriculture Organization. FIA currently combines these categories and labels 

them “forest land.” The differences are largely manifest in the arid ecoregions of western Texas, 

western Oklahoma, and the Rocky Mountain and Pacific Coast regions. As this report is 

being published under the RPA banner, the term “forest and woodland” is used throughout 

and is synonymous with the FIA forest land definition.

The NWOS uses woodland in its title and the term “wooded land” throughout most of the 

questionnaire. The use of this term was based on extensive pretesting that showed it to be the 

most widely accepted phrase used by family ownerships when describing the part of their land 

that is dominated by trees. A lay definition of the Forest Service’s technical definition was also 

included in the questionnaire.

Tables containing estimates of area and number of ownerships by state are provided at the 

end of this report and include estimates of area of forest and woodland by private and public 

ownership categories and estimates of area and number for private, nonindustrial private, and 

family forest and woodland ownerships (see Tables 4-10; all tables begin on p. 14). Separate 

tables for ownerships with 1+ acres (0.4+ hectares) of forest and woodland and ownerships 

with 10+ acres (4.0+ hectares) of forest and woodland are provided.
2

In the supplemental data accompanying this report (available at dx.doi.org/10.2737/NRSRB-99), separate sets of survey summary tables are available for the nation, regions, and for 

individual states where the minimum sample size (n ≥ 100) was obtained. The reporting 

regions are based on those used by the RPA Assessment (Fig. 1). The survey summary tables 

include the area of forest and woodland by ownership category along with information 

on sample sizes, cooperation rates, and summaries of the 37 questions asked as part of the 

NWOS.

Survey summary tables focus on family ownerships with 10 or more acres of forest and 

woodland holdings. Family and woodland ownerships with 1-9 acres were sampled as part 

of the 2011-2013 NWOS but are not included for a number of reasons: they are primarily 

large backyards associated with house lots; traditional forestry practices are not applicable 

at this scale; most forestry professionals do not consider these forests; many of these smaller 

holdings do not qualify for assistance programs; and the large sampling errors associated 

with estimates that include small ownerships make trend analysis more difficult. This is not 

to say that ownerships with less than 10 acres are unimportant, rather they are different from 

ownerships with larger holdings and will be the focus of separate data reporting and analysis 

efforts. Likewise, data on corporate and other private ownerships, such as nongovernmental 

conservation organizations, unincorporated partnerships, associations, clubs, and tribal 

ownerships, were collected as part of the 2011-2013 NWOS, but results for these important 

ownership groups will be reported in separate publications.

To aid in comparisons with the previous iteration of the NWOS, corresponding sets of survey 

summary tables for family ownerships with 10+ acres of forest and woodland are included 

for the 2002-2006 NWOS. See the Comparisons Between Survey Iterations section for 

information on how the 2002-2006 tables were generated and a brief discussion of similarities 

and differences between the iterations.

For those who do not find the summaries they are looking for in the tables included with this 

report, the NWOS Table Maker program (Butler et al., n.d.c.) is an online tool that allows 

users to create custom tables, including two-way, cross-tabulation tables.

Figure 1.—Regions used by the U.S. Forest Service Resources Planning Act (RPA) Assessment and adopted by 

the National Woodland Owner Survey.

North

South

Rocky

Mountain

Pacific

Coast*

* Alaska and Hawaii

 are included in the 

 P acific Coast Region
3

METHODS

Brief summaries of the sample design, implementation procedures, and estimation methods 

for the 2011-2013 NWOS are provided here and are explained in greater detail in Butler et 

al. (2016). Additional details and justification for the methods are provided in Dickinson and 

Butler (2013).

Sample Design

The NWOS sample design is based on the quasi-systematic FIA sample design (Bechtold and 

Patterson 2005). Although an area-based sampling frame was used to select the FIA sample, 

ownerships were the primary sampling units for the NWOS. Therefore, the sample selection 

probabilities were proportional to size—the larger the size of the forest and woodland 

holdings, the higher the probability of an ownership being included in the sample.

To spatially distribute the sample, each state was divided into hexagons. Each hexagon was 

approximately 6,000 acres (2,400 hectares) in size, a size selected by the FIA program to 

provide reliable statistics on basic forest attributes. Within each hexagon, a sample point was 

randomly selected.

Using a combination of remote sensing and field observations, each sample point was 

classified as either being forest and woodland or nonforest/nonwoodland. For the forest and 

woodland points, publicly available property tax data were used to determine the ownership of 

record. If the ownership of the forest and woodland point was determined to be private, it was 

included in the NWOS sample.

As stated in the questionnaires, the unit of analysis was an ownership and all of the forest 

and woodland owned in a given state. If more than one sample point fell on the land of an 

ownership in a state, only one survey was sent.

Survey Implementation

The methods recommended by Dillman et al. (2014) were used to solicit responses from the 

private ownerships identified as part of the NWOS sample. First, a prenotice postcard was 

sent to all potential respondents identifying the purpose of the survey and alerting them 

to the fact they would soon be receiving a questionnaire. Next, ownerships were mailed a 

copy of the questionnaire, a business reply return envelope, and a cover letter reiterating 

the purpose of the survey and stating how the data would be used. The third contact was a 

reminder/thank you postcard. Those who had not returned a questionnaire within 25 days of 

the first mailing were mailed a second copy of the questionnaire, a business reply envelope, 

and a modified cover letter. Telephone follow-up interviews, using a subset of the mail 

questionnaire questions, were attempted with a subset of those who had yet to respond in 

order to increase response rates and to measure potential nonresponse bias. The subset of 

nonrespondents contacted for the telephone follow-up interviews were randomly selected 

from the nonrespondents for whom telephone numbers were available. Financial constraints 

limited the total number of contacts.

A copy of the questionnaire is available in Butler et al. (2016), and state-specific 

questionnaires are available on the NWOS Web site. In general, the only difference among 

state questionnaires was the insertion of the state name, for example “How many acres of 

wooded land do you own in Alabama?”
4

Population-level Estimates

For the NWOS, the populations of interest are: family, corporate, and other private. The 

geographic area of interest is the United States, with sampling occurring at the state level 

(i.e., the strata are states). The focus of this report is on a subset of these populations: family 

ownerships with 10+ acres of forest and woodland. Population estimates were generated 

using estimators appropriate to the probability proportional to size sampling design. These 

estimates were calculated in terms of numbers of ownerships and area of forest and woodland, 

which can show different patterns. The equations used to calculate ownership-based and 

area-based estimates and their accompanying variances are provided in Butler et al. (2016). 

All estimates were calculated at the state level and then aggregated to generate estimates for 

larger geographic areas.

To ensure a reasonable level of certainty, full sets of survey summary tables are only being 

published for states where a minimum sample size of 100 was obtained. States with sample 

sizes between 10-99 are included in the national and regional tables, but summary tables are 

not being published for these states. Tables can be requested from the authors, but results 

from these unpublished tables should be interpreted cautiously. States with sample sizes of 

less than 10 are excluded from the national and regional tables, and survey summary tables are 

not available for these states.

RESULTS

Number of Respondents and Cooperation Rates

Across the United States, a total of 10,092 family forest or woodland ownerships responded 

to the NWOS between 2011 and 2013. This number includes all family forest and woodland 

ownerships with 1 or more acres of forest and woodland and is the basis for calculating 

cooperation rates since the size of holdings is unknown for nonrespondents and cooperation 

rates just for the subset of ownerships with 10+ acres of forest and woodland cannot be 

calculated. The overall cooperation rate Responses

Sent −Undeliverables × 



 



 100 is 52 percent for the United 

States and ranges from 37 percent in Hawaii to 64 percent in Michigan (Table 1). As shown 

in Figure 2, some regional cooperation rate patterns exist with relatively higher rates in the 

Northeast, Midwest, and Pacific Northwest, and lower rates in the Southeast, South Central, 

and Intermountain West.

Figure 2.—Cooperation rates for the 2011-2013 National Woodland Owner Survey for family forest and 

woodland ownerships, by state.

Cooperation rate

(percentage)

60+

55−59

50−54

45−49

40−44

<40

No data (n < 10)

Alaska: n <10

Hawaii = 37%
5

A total of 8,567 family forest and woodland ownerships with at least 10 acres of forest and 

woodland responded to the 2011-2013 NWOS, and these responses formed the basis for 

the statistics reported in the survey summary tables. The effective sample size varies across 

tables because the NWOS uses different survey instruments (mail-back questionnaire, 

online questionnaire, and telephone interviews), and not all questions were asked on all 

survey instruments. Thirty-six states had at least 100 respondents allowing for full sets of 

survey summary tables to be published (Fig. 3; Table 2). Six states had between 10 and 99 

respondents, so even though individual state results are not being published, these states 

are included in national and regional summaries. For the three states that had fewer than 

10 respondents, no state summary tables are being published and data are not included in 

regional or national summaries.

Four states (Connecticut, Oklahoma, Texas, and Vermont) have a total number of respondents 

that far exceeds the target sample size. The number of respondents in Connecticut and 

Vermont are high relative to other states due to additional funding being provided to intensify 

the samples in those states. For Oklahoma and Texas, the FIA forest inventory on which the 

NWOS is based treats the eastern and western portions of these states as separate strata, and 

target sample sizes are calculated separately and sampling is done differently in each substate 

area. The NWOS has inherited these differences in sampling intensities and uses the same 

approach with target sample sizes calculated separately for the eastern and western portions of 

these two states.

As reported in Butler et al. (2016), the potential for nonresponse bias was tested by comparing 

results for mail respondents to telephone respondents for key variables such as area of forest 

and woodland owned, land tenure, and having harvested trees. No systematic biases were 

detected, and therefore no adjustments were made.

Item nonresponse occurs when a respondent is asked a question but chooses not to respond to 

that specific question. As reported in Butler et al. (2016), the median item nonresponse rate 

was 5 percent. The tables in this publication list the number of respondents used to calculate 

the statistics in each row of each table. A separate row labeled “no answer” is included in the 

tables for those who were asked to respond to a specific question but opted not to (i.e., item 

nonresponse). To make interpretation of the results easier, item nonresponse was excluded 

from the percentage calculations.

Figure 3.—Number of family forest and woodland ownerships with 10 or more acres of forest/woodland 

who responded to the 2011-2013 National Woodland Owner Survey, by state.

Number of

Responses

<10

10−49

50−99

100−249 Alaska = 3 250+

Hawaii = 42
6

Comparisons Between Survey Iterations

To make accurate comparisons across surveys, it is important to ensure the populations of 

interest are the same and the questions asked are the same, or at least compatible. To aid in 

comparisons between the 2002-2006 and 2011-2013 iterations of the NWOS, the 2002-2006 

data were reprocessed to include only family ownerships with 10 or more acres of forest or 

woodland. The previously published data (Butler 2008) included family ownerships with 1 or 

more acres of forest or woodland. To further improve comparisons, the 2002-2006 data were 

reprocessed with the same estimation methods used for the 2011-2013 data. The estimation 

methods were similar between iterations, but the estimation units changed from multi-county 

survey units of typically four or more per state (Butler et al. 2005) to the state as a whole.

Due to sampling issues, different states were included in the summaries of the 2002-2006 and 

2011-2013 iterations of the NWOS. To aid in the comparison of national and regional results, 

a second set of 2011-2013 national and regional tables is included that contains only those 

states that are also summarized in 2002-2006 national and regional tables. The states included 

in the national and regional tables are indicated in Table 2.

The questions in common between the 2002-2006 and 2011-2013 iterations are listed in 

Table 3. While many of the questions were identical in wording, some had slight changes 

that are noted in Table 3. These notes should be considered when making comparisons. For 

the specific wording of the questions, refer to Butler (2008) and Butler et al. (2016). To assess 

if differences are statistically significant, z-tests or similar statistical tests that incorporate 

variances and covariances should be considered (Dorofeev and Grant 2006). The covariance 

is important because the two samples are not completely independence since many of the 

sample points and respondents are the same between surveys. The sampling errors reported 

provide an estimate of the variances, but covariances are not provided and differences must 

therefore be interpreted cautiously.

Survey Summary Table Descriptions

The main results in this report consist of sets of 44 survey summary tables that are produced 

separately for the nation (all states combined where the minimum state sample sizes of n ≥10 

were obtained), the four RPA regions (North, South, Rocky Mountain, Pacific Coast), and 

each state where the number of survey responses met or exceeded the minimum sample size 

of 100 (Table 2). 

To aid in comparisons, the table numbering and naming convention used for survey summary 

tables are consistent across sets. Tables are designated as Table XX-# (YYYY) where XX 

indicates the state, region, or nation abbreviation, # indicates the table number, and YYYY 

indicates the year for the iteration of the data used to generate the results. Parallel tables were 

produced for the 2011-2013 and 2002-2006 data, but tables were left blank for the latter if 

the requisite data were not available (Table 3). 

• Table XX-# (2013) designates tables with results from the 2011-2013 data.

• Table XX-# (2006) designates tables with results from the 2002-2006 data.

• Table XX-# (2013 Compare) designates 2011-2013 regional and national tables 

generated for comparisons with the 2002-2006 data. The 2011-2013 values were 

recalculated only using those states in common with the 2002-2006 data.
7

The first table in each summary set shows area of forest and woodland by broad ownership 

categories. These area numbers are derived from the U.S. Forest Service, Forest Inventory 

and Analysis plot data. The specific inventory years used for each state are indicated in the 

table caption. The second table shows the sample size and cooperation rate. Subsequent tables 

summarize specific survey questions or subquestions as listed in Table 3. These tables include 

separate columns for area and ownerships in terms of totals and percentages along with the 

associated standard errors (SE) and effective sample sizes (n). Sampling errors help interpret 

the uncertainty associated with the estimates. Footnotes in tables provide key definitions, 

define abbreviations, and list any data that are excluded. A list of titles for the survey summary 

tables is provided below, and tables are available at dx.doi.org/10.2737/NRS-RB-99. Titles 

for the 2006 summary tables may be slightly different due to variations in the wording and 

formatting of survey questions.

Table XX-1 (YYYY)—Estimated area of forest and woodland by ownership category

Table XX-2 (YYYY)—Sample size and cooperation rate for family forest and woodland 

ownerships for the U.S. Forest Service, National Woodland Owner Survey

Table XX-3 (YYYY)—Estimated area and estimated number of family forest and woodland 

ownerships (10+ acres) by ownership subcategory

Table XX-4 (YYYY)—Estimated area and estimated number of family forest and woodland 

ownerships (10+ acres) by number of owners

Table XX-5 (YYYY)—Estimated area and estimated number of family forest and woodland 

ownerships (10+ acres) by percent of ownership’s land that is forested/wooded

Table XX-6 (YYYY)—Estimated area and estimated number of family forest and woodland 

ownerships (10+ acres) by size of forest/woodland holdings

Table XX-7 (YYYY)—Estimated area and estimated number of family forest and woodland 

ownerships (10+ acres) by number of parcels owned

Table XX-8 (YYYY)—Estimated area and estimated number of family forest and woodland 

ownerships (10+ acres) that are within 1 mile of ownerships’ primary residences

Table XX-9 (YYYY)—Estimated area and estimated number of family forest and woodland 

ownerships (10+ acres) that are within 1mile of ownerships’ vacation homes

Table XX-10 (YYYY)—Estimated area and estimated number of family forest and woodland 

ownerships (10+ acres) that are within 1 mile of ownerships’ farms

Table XX-11 (YYYY)—Estimated area and estimated number of family forest and 

woodland ownerships (10+acres) by reason for owning forest and woodland. Numbers include 

ownerships that rated an objective as very important or important on a five-point Likert scale.

Table XX-12 (YYYY)—Estimated area and estimated number of family forest and woodland 

ownerships (10+ acres) by type and source of forest and woodland acquisition

Table XX-13 (YYYY)—Estimated area and estimated number of family forest and woodland 

ownerships (10+ acres) by land tenure
8

Table XX-14 (YYYY)—Estimated area and estimated number of family forest and woodland 

ownerships (10+ acres) by frequency of selling or giving away forest and woodland and 

recipients of this land

Table XX-15 (YYYY)—Estimated area and estimated number of family forest and woodland 

ownerships (10+ acres) by decisionmaker

Table XX-16 (YYYY)—Estimated area and estimated number of family forest and woodland 

ownerships (10+ acres) by written management plan status

Table XX-17 (YYYY)—Estimated area and estimated number of family forest and woodland 

ownerships (10+ acres) by activities that cut or removed trees

Table XX-18 (YYYY)—Estimated area and estimated number of family forest and woodland 

ownerships (10+ acres) by types of timber products and trees cut or removed 

Table XX-19 (YYYY)—Estimated area and estimated number of family forest and woodland 

ownerships (10+ acres) by use of professional foresters for timber harvesting

Table XX-20 (YYYY)—Estimated area and estimated number of family forest and woodland 

ownerships (10+ acres) by activities related to nontimber forest products (NTFPs)

Table XX-21 (YYYY)—Estimated area and estimated number of family forest and woodland 

ownerships (10+ acres) by activities related to nontimber forest products (NTFPs)

Table XX-22 (YYYY)—Estimated area and estimated number of family forest and woodland 

ownerships (10+ acres) by past 5 years’ forestry activity

Table XX-23 (YYYY)—Estimated area and estimated number of family forest and woodland 

ownerships (10+ acres) by next 5 years’ forestry activity. Numbers include ownerships that 

rated an activity as extremely likely or likely on a five-point Likert scale.

Table XX-24 (YYYY)—Estimated area and estimated number of family forest and woodland 

ownerships (10+ acres) by lease status

Table XX-25 (YYYY)—Estimated area and estimated number of family forest and woodland 

ownerships (10+ acres) by familiarity with and participation in cost-share programs

Table XX-26 (YYYY)—Estimated area and estimated number of family forest and woodland 

ownerships (10+ acres) by familiarity with and participation in green certification programs

Table XX-27 (YYYY)—Estimated area and estimated number of family forest and woodland 

ownerships (10+ acres) by familiarity with and participation in forestry related property tax 

programs

Table XX-28 (YYYY)—Estimated area and estimated number of family forest and woodland 

ownerships (10+ acres) by familiarity with and status of easements that restrict land use 

conversions

Table XX-29 (YYYY)—Estimated area and estimated number of family forest and woodland 

ownerships (10+ acres) by who recreated on the forest and woodland and type of recreation
9

Table XX-30 (YYYY)—Estimated area and estimated number of family forest and woodland 

ownerships (10+ acres) by whether the ownership has its forest/woodland posted to restrict 

public access and type of restriction

Table XX-31 (YYYY)—Estimated area and estimated number of family forest and woodland 

ownerships (10+ acres) by advice received in the preceding 5 years and advice source

Table XX-32 (YYYY)—Estimated area and estimated number of family forest and woodland 

ownerships (10+ acres) by type of assistance desired by ownership. Numbers include 

ownerships that rated a topic as very helpful or helpful on a five-point Likert scale.

Table XX-33 (YYYY)—Estimated area and estimated number of family forest and woodland 

ownerships (10+ acres) by preferred methods to receive forest/woodland management 

information. Numbers include ownerships that rated a method as very useful or useful on a 

five-point Likert scale.

Table XX-34 (YYYY)—Estimated area and estimated number of family forest and woodland 

ownerships (10+ acres) by ownerships’ concerns. Numbers include ownerships that rated an 

issue a great concern or concern on a five-point Likert scale.

Table XX-35 (YYYY)—Estimated area and estimated number of family forest and woodland 

ownerships (10+ acres) by ownerships’ likelihood of selling or giving away land in the next 5 

years and who is likely to receive it

Table XX-36 (YYYY)—Estimated area and estimated number of family forest and woodland 

ownerships (10+ acres) by ownerships’ agreement/disagreement about statements related to 

keeping land forested/wooded and selling forest/woodland

Table XX-37 (YYYY)—Estimated area and estimated number of family forest and woodland 

ownerships (10+ acres) by primary and secondary owners’ retirement statuses

Table XX-38 (YYYY)—Estimated area and estimated number of family forest and woodland 

ownerships (10+ acres) by primary and secondary owners’ occupations

Table XX-39 (YYYY)—Estimated area and estimated number of family forest and woodland 

ownerships (10+ acres) by primary and secondary owners’ ages

Table XX-40 (YYYY)—Estimated area and estimated number of family forest and woodland 

ownerships (10+ acres) by primary and secondary owners’ genders

Table XX-41 (YYYY)—Estimated area and estimated number of family forest and woodland 

ownerships (10+ acres) by primary and secondary owners’ highest levels of formal education 

attained

Table XX-42 (YYYY)—Estimated area and estimated number of family forest and woodland 

ownerships (10+ acres) by primary and secondary owners’ ethnicities and races

Table XX-43 (YYYY)—Estimated area and estimated number of family forest and woodland 

ownerships (10+ acres) by ownerships’ annual household income

Table XX-44 (YYYY)—Estimated area and estimated number of family forest and woodland 

ownerships (10+ acres) by ownerships’ percent of household annual income derived from 

forest and woodland owned
10

OTHER NWOS RESOURCES

Additional information about the 2011-2013 NWOS methods, results, and general program 

attributes is available through a series of publications, tools, and Web sites. Details of the 

design, implementation, and analysis methods can be found in Butler et al. (2016) and 

Dickinson and Butler (2013). Butler et al. (2016) also contains a copy of the questionnaire 

and documentation for the NWOS database.

Butler et al. (n.d.a.) presents an analysis of the general findings of the 2011-2013 NWOS 

concentrating on family forest and woodland ownerships with 10 or more acres of forest 

or woodland and examines trends between the 2002-2006 and 2011-2013 iterations of the 

NWOS. Summaries highlighting ownership patterns and general results from the 2011-2013 

NWOS are published in U.S. Forest Service (2015) and will be available in a series of twopage graphical summaries, one for each state where the minimum sample size (n ≥ 100) was 

obtained, each region, and the nation (Butler et al., n.d.b.). The U.S. Forest Service (2015) 

brochure is intended primarily for those people who responded to the NWOS questionnaire 

and other private landowners. The Butler et al. (n.d.b.) summaries are intended primarily for 

a more technical audience including people who work for state forestry agencies, research 

institutions, and nonprofit organizations that are familiar with the NWOS program.

Additional program information, including links to some of the items listed above and copies 

of the state-specific questionnaires, is available at the following Web sites:

• National Woodland Owner Survey: www.fia.fs.fed.us/nwos

• Forest Inventory and Analysis program: www.fia.fs.fed.us

• Family Forest Research Center, a joint venture between the U.S. Forest Service and 

the University of Massachusetts Amherst: www.familyforestresearchcenter.org

• Resources Planning Act (RPA) Assessment: www.fs.fed.us/research/rpa
11

GLOSSARY

Corporate forest and woodland ownerships—ownerships that are incorporated, including 

timber investment management organizations (TIMOs), real estate investment trusts 

(REITs), native corporations in Alaska, and private universities, that own forest or woodland. 

Where identifiable, family ownerships that have been incorporated primarily for tax, estate, or 

other purposes (e.g., family limited liability corporations) are included with the family forest 

and woodland ownerships category. 

Family forest and woodland ownerships—families, individuals, trusts, estates, and family 

partnerships that own forest or woodland.

Federal forest and woodland ownerships—National Forest, National Park Service, Bureau of 

Land Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of Defense, and other federal 

ownerships that own forest or woodland.

Forest land—land at least 120 feet (37 meters) wide and at least 1 acre (0.4 hectare) in 

size with at least 10 percent cover (or equivalent stocking) by live trees including land that 

formerly had such tree cover and that will be naturally or artificially regenerated. Trees are 

woody plants having a more or less erect perennial stem(s) capable of achieving at least 3 

inches (7.6 cm) in diameter at breast height, or 5 inches (12.7 cm) diameter at root collar, 

and a height of 16.4 feet (5 meters) at maturity in situ. The definition here includes all areas 

recently having such conditions and currently regenerating or capable of attaining such 

condition in the near future. Forest land also includes transition zones, such as areas between 

forest and nonforest lands, that have at least 10 percent cover (or equivalent stocking) with 

live trees and forest areas adjacent to urban and built-up lands. Unimproved roads and trails, 

streams, and clearings in forest areas are classified as forest if they are less than 120 feet 

(37 meters) wide or an acre (0.4 hectare) in size. Forest land does not include land that is 

predominantly under agricultural or urban land use (Oswalt et al. 2014 p. 31).

Local forest and woodland ownerships—county, municipal, and other nonfederal public 

ownerships that own forest or woodland.

Nonindustrial private forest and woodland ownerships—private forest and woodland 

ownerships that do not own and operate a primary wood processing plant. A primary wood 

processing plant is any commercial operation that originates the primary processing of wood 

on a regular and continuing basis. Examples include: pulp or paper mill, sawmill, panel board 

mill, post or pole mill (Woudenberg et al. 2010 p. 49).

Other private forest and woodland ownerships—nongovernmental conservation and natural 

resources organizations (e.g., the Nature Conservancy, Trust for Public Lands, Pacific Forest 

Trust, Boy Scouts of America) and unincorporated partnerships, associations, and clubs (e.g., 

hunting clubs that own, not lease property; recreation associations; 4H clubs; churches) that 

own forest or woodland.

Ownerships—a legal entity that has proscribed legal rights over a specific resource. In the 

case of family ownerships, it is composed of one or more owners (i.e., individuals).

Private forest and woodland ownerships—corporate, family, other private, and tribal 

ownerships that own forest or woodland.
12

Public forest and woodland ownerships—federal, state, and local ownerships that own forest 

or woodland.

State forest and woodland ownerships—state owned parks, forests, wildlife, and other lands 

that own forest or woodland.

Tribal forest and woodland ownerships—Native American (Indian) ownerships that are 

within reservation boundaries that own forest or woodland. Due to data confidentiality rules 

and small numbers of these ownerships in many states, these ownerships are often included in 

the other private forest ownership category.

Woodland—land at least 120 feet (37 meters) wide and at least 1 acre (0.4 hectares) in 

size with sparse trees capable of achieving 16.4 feet (5 meters) in height with a tree canopy 

cover of 5 to10 percent combined with shrubs at least 6 feet (2 meters) in height to achieve 

an overall cover of greater than 10 percent of woody vegetation. Trees are woody plants 

having a more or less erect perennial stem(s) capable of achieving at least 3 inches (7.6 cm) 

in diameter at breast height, or 5 inches (12.7 cm) diameter at root collar, and a height of 

16.4 feet (5 meters) at maturity in situ. The definition here includes all areas recently having 

such conditions and currently regenerating or capable of attaining such condition in the near 

future. It does not include land that is predominantly under agricultural or urban land use 

(Oswalt et al. 2014 p. 35).

REFERENCES

Bechtold, W.A.; Patterson, P.L., ed. 2005. The enhanced Forest Inventory and Analysis 

program—national sampling design and estimation procedures. Gen. Tech. Rep. SRS80. Asheville, NC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Southern Research 

Station. 85 p.

Butler, B.J. 2008. Family forest owners of the United States, 2006. Gen. Tech. Rep. NRS-27. 

Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research 

Station. 73 p.

Butler, B.J.; Dickinson, B.J.; Hewes, J.H.; Butler, S.M.; Andrejczyk, K.; Markowski-Lindsay, 

M. 2016. USDA Forest Service National Woodland Owner Survey, 2011-2013: design, 

implementation, and estimation methods. Gen. Tech. Rep. NRS-157. Newtown Square, 

PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station. 43 p.

Butler, B.J.; Hewes, J.H.; Dickinson, B.J.; Andrejczyk, K.; Butler, S.M.; Markowski-Lindsay, 

M. [N.d.a.]. Family forest ownerships of the United States: results from the U.S. Forest 

Service National Woodland Owner Survey, 2013. Manuscript in preparation.

Butler, B.J.; Hewes, J.H.; Dickinson, B.J.; Andrejcxyk, K.; Butler, S.M.; Markowski-Lindsay, 

M. [N.d.b.]. Family forest ownerships (with 10+ forest and woodland acres) in [STATE], 

2011-2013. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, 

Northern Research Station. 2 p. [Separate summaries for each state, region, and the nation 

are in preparation].

Butler, B.J.; Leatherberry, E.C.; Williams, M.S. 2005. Design, implementation, and analysis 

methods for the National Woodland Owner Survey. Gen. Tech. Rep. NE-336. Newtown 

Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern Research 

Station. 43 p.
13

Butler, B.J.; Miles, P.D.; Hansen, M.H.; Hewes, J.H. [N.d.c.]. National woodland owner 

survey table Web application. Version 2.0. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of 

Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station. In preparation.

Dickinson, B.J.; Butler, B.J. 2013. Methods for estimating private forest ownership 

statistics: revised methods for the USDA Forest Service’s national woodland owner 

survey. Journal of Forestry. 111(5): 319-325.

Dillman, D.A.; Smyth, J.D.; Christian, L.M. 2014. Internet, phone, mail, and mixed-mode 

surveys: the tailored design method. 4th ed. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley & Sons. 509 p.

Dorofeev, S.; Grant, P. 2006. Statistics for real-life sample surveys: non-simple-random 

samples and weighted data. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press. 266 p.

Oswalt, S.N.; Smith, W. B.; Miles, P.D.; Pugh, S.A. 2014. Forest resources of the United 

States, 2012: a technical document supporting the Forest Service update of the 2010 

RPA assessment. Gen. Tech. Rep. WO-91. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of 

Agriculture, Forest Service. 218 p.

Smith, W.B.; Miles, P.D.; Perry, C.H.; Pugh, S.A. 2009. Forest resources of the United 

States, 2007. Gen. Tech. Rep. WO-78. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, 

Forest Service. 336 p.

U.S. Forest Service. 2015. Who owns America’s trees, woods, and forests? Results from 

the U.S. Forest Service 2011-2013 national woodland owner survey. NRS-INF-31-15. 

Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research 

Station. 12 p.

Woudenberg, S.W.; Conkling, B.L.; O’Connell, B.M.; LaPoint, E.B.; Turner, J.A.; Waddell, 

K.L. 2010. The Forest Inventory and Analysis database: database description and users 

manual version 4.0 for phase 2. Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-245. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. 

Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. 339 p.
14

NATIONAL FOREST AND WOODLAND OWNERSHIP TABLES

Index of Tables

Table 1—Sample sizes and cooperation rates for family forest and woodland ownerships (1+ 

acres) for the U.S. Forest Service, National Woodland Owner Survey by state/region/nation, 

2011-2013

Table 2—States included in regional and national summary tables and states for which full 

sets of state-level summary tables are being published in this report for the 2013 and 2006 

iterations of the U.S. Forest Service, National Woodland Owner Survey

Table 3—Descriptions of survey summary tables for the U.S. Forest Service, National 

Woodland Owner Survey and crosswalk between survey questions by questionnaire version

Table 4—Estimated area of forest and woodland ownerships (1+ acres) by category and state/

region/nation, 2011-2013

Table 5—Estimated area and estimated number of private forest and woodland ownerships 

(1+ acres) by state/region/nation, 2011-2013

Table 6—Estimated area and estimated number of private forest and woodland ownerships 

(10+ acres) by state/region/nation, 2011-2013

Table 7—Estimated area and estimated number of nonindustrial private forest and woodland 

ownerships (1+ acres) by state/region/nation, 2011-2013

Table 8—Estimated area and estimated number of nonindustrial private forest and woodland 

ownerships (10+ acres) by state/region/nation, 2011-2013

Table 9—Estimated area and estimated number of family forest and woodland ownerships 

(1+ acres) by state/region/nation, 2011-2013

Table 10—Estimated area and estimated number of family forest and woodland ownerships 

(10+ acres) by state/region/nation, 2011-2013
15

Table 1.–Sample sizes and cooperation rates for family forest and

woodland ownerships (1+ acres) for the U.S. Forest Service, National

Woodland Owner Survey by state/region/nation, 2011-2013

Region/state Sent Undeliverable Responses Cooperation Ratea

- - - - - - - - - number - - - - - - - - - percent

North

Connecticut 615 6 347 57.0

Delaware 545 18 255 48.4

Illinois 373 23 201 57.4

Indiana 516 35 269 55.9

Iowa 289 16 152 55.7

Maine 551 52 286 57.3

Maryland 883 37 401 47.4

Massachusetts 489 30 237 51.6

Michigan 506 37 301 64.2

Minnesota 691 68 392 62.9

Missouri 689 63 378 60.4

New Hampshire 295 22 168 61.5

New Jersey 457 29 205 47.9

New York 632 54 313 54.2

Ohio 466 20 248 55.6

Pennsylvania 492 36 259 56.8

Rhode Island 33 2 18 58.1

Vermont 953 51 501 55.5

West Virginia 563 70 277 56.2

Wisconsin 656 28 393 62.6

North total 10,694 697 5,601 56.0

South

Alabama 721 89 297 47.0

Arkansas 595 97 239 48.0

Florida 396 24 175 47.0

Georgia 556 57 256 51.3

Kentucky 605 66 242 44.9

Louisiana 411 36 164 43.7

Mississippi 553 55 236 47.4

North Carolina 518 35 228 47.2

Oklahomab

East 549 52 179 36.0

West 252 13 108 45.2

South Carolina 500 58 236 53.4

Tennessee 621 41 280 48.3

Texasb

East 580 35 204 37.4

West 697 73 284 45.5

Virginia 625 60 280 49.6

South total 8,179 791 3,408 46.1
16

Table 1.–(continued)

Region/state Sent Undeliverable Responses Cooperation Rate

- - - - - - - - - number - - - - - - - - - percent

Rocky Mountain

Arizona 60 11 26 53.1

Colorado 45 9 15 41.7

Idaho 89 7 42 51.2

Kansas 284 19 145 54.7

Montana 421 21 193 48.2

Nebraska 148 13 66 48.9

Nevada 7 0 2 28.6

New Mexico 121 12 46 42.2

North Dakota 54 5 23 46.9

South Dakota 61 7 25 46.3

Utah 104 16 40 45.5

Wyoming 11 0 2 18.2

Rocky Mountain total 1,405 120 625 48.6

Pacific Coast

Alaskab

Coastal 15 1 5 35.7

Interior 0 0 0 –

California 329 49 135 48.2

Hawaii 224 12 78 36.8

Oregon 231 24 132 63.8

Washington 206 24 108 59.3

Pacific Coast total 1,005 110 458 51.2

United States

U.S. total 21,283 1,718 10,092 51.6

Note: These numbers are for all family forest and woodland ownerships. The size of holdings is

unknown for nonrespondents and therefore these statistics cannot be subset just to ownerships with 10+

acres of forest or woodland.

a Cooperation rate =  Responses

Sent−Undeliverables × 100

b Estimates are made at the substate level
17

Table 2.–States included in regional and national summary tables and states for which full

sets of state-level summary tables are being published in this report for the 2013 and 2006

iterations of the U.S. Forest Service, National Woodland Owner Survey

2013 2006

Included in regional State-level Included in regional State-level

and national summary tables and national summary tables

Region/state summary tables published summary tables published

North

Connecticut X X X

Delaware X X X

Illinois X X X X

Indiana X X X X

Iowa X X X X

Maine X X X X

Maryland X X X

Massachusetts X X X

Michigan X X X X

Minnesota X X X X

Missouri X X X X

New Hampshire X X X X

New Jersey X X X

New York X X X X

Ohio X X X X

Pennsylvania X X X X

Rhode Island X X

Vermont X X X X

West Virginia X X X X

Wisconsin X X X X

South

Alabama X X X X

Arkansas X X X X

Florida X X X

Georgia X X X X

Kentucky X X X X

Louisiana X X X X

Mississippi X X X X

North Carolina X X X X

Oklahomaa

East X X X

West X

South Carolina X X X X

Tennessee X X X X

Texasa

East X X X X

West X X

Virginia X X X X
18

Table 2.–(continued)

2013 2006

Included in regional State-level Included in regional State-level

and national summary tables and national summary tables

Region/state summary tables published summary tables published

Rocky Mountain

Arizona X X

Colorado X X

Idaho X X

Kansas X X X X

Montana X X X

Nebraska X X

Nevada

New Mexico X X

North Dakota X X

South Dakota X X

Utah X X

Wyoming

Pacific Coast

Alaskaa

Coastal

Interior

California X X X X

Hawaii X

Oregon X X X X

Washington X X X

a Estimates are made at the substate level
19

Table 3.–Descriptions of survey summary tables for the U.S. Forest Service National Woodland Owner

Survey and crosswalk between survey questions by questionnaire version

Question number

Table Version 5.1 Version 4.5 Notes on differences between

number Brief description (2011-2013) (2002-2006) questionnaire versions

1 Acres by ownership – –

category for all

ownerships

2 Sample size and – –

cooperation rate

3 Acres by ownership 1 5 Categories were simplified, especially

category for corporations. Switched from

“check all that apply” to “check only

one”.

4 Number of owners 2 –

5 Percent of land that 3 1

is forested/wooded

6 Size of forest/ 3 1 Subquestion of wooded land

wooded land holdings outside of State of interest

was dropped.

7 Number of parcels 3 1 The number of parcels subquestion

owned was separated into two subquestions.

8 Primary residence 4 7

9 Vacation home 5 7

10 Farm 6 6 Added “not applicable” option.

Dropped subquestion on farm

acreage.

11 Reasons for owning 7 9 Converted from a 7-point to a

5-point Likert scale and all options

were labeled with words. Added

objectives related to water resources

and raising a family. Split home and

vacation home objectives.

12 Land acquisition 8 3 Added more detail on family

relationships. Dropped the don’t

know option for acquisition year.

13 Land tenure 8 3

14 Past selling/giving 9 4 Added more detail on family

away land relationships.

15 Decision maker 10 14 Added more detail on family

relationships and dropped logging

contractor.

16 Management plans 11 17 Added subquestions on whether plan

was implemented, who prepared the

plan, and reasons for no plan. Don’t

know option was dropped.
20

Table 3.–(continued)

Question number

Table Version 5.1 Version 4.5 Notes on differences between

number Brief description (2011-2013) (2002-2006) questionnaire versions

17 Timber harvesting 12 15 Converted to a matrix format. Added

options for wood chips and

unwanted trees. Dropped veneer logs

and pulpwood. Added subquestion

on certified logger. Dropped reason

for cutting.

18 Timber harvesting 12 15

(simplified)

19 Use of foresters 12 15

20 Nontimber forest 13 16 Converted to matrix format.

products

21 Nontimber forest 13 16

products (simplified)

22 Recent forestry 14 18 Added controlled burn, invasive

activities species, and livestock grazing.

Dropped planted trees and chemical

use. Separated road and trails.

Recreation and posting converted to

separate questions.

23 Future forestry 15 23 Switched to a likelihood rating.

activities Dropped convert land, buy more

land, leave as is, minimum activities,

no plans, and don’t know. Sell and

give away converted to separate

question.

24 Leases 16 10 Added land conservation, carbon

sequestration, water supply, and

wildlife. Dropped timber production

and nontimber forest products.

25 Cost-share programs 17 13 Converted familiarity from yes/no to

rating. Added subquestion on

recency. Dropped specification of

programs.

26 Green certification 18 12 Converted familiarity from yes/no to

programs rating. Dropped subquestion on

future intentions for certification.

27 Property tax 19 –

programs

28 Easements 20 11 Used phrase sell development rights

instead of conservation easement.

Converted familiarity from yes/no to

rating. Dropped subquestion on

what was eased.
21

Table 3.–(continued)

Question number

Table Version 5.1 Version 4.5 Notes on differences between

number Brief description (2011-2013) (2002-2006) questionnaire versions

29 Recreation 21 18 Added information on who recreated

and the types of recreation activities.

30 Posting 22 18 Added information on what activities

are restricted.

31 Advice received 23 19 Added subquestion on advice topic

and method of receiving advice.

32 Advice desired 24 –

33 Preferred methods to

receive information 25 20 Converted to a check all that apply.

34 Concerns 26 21 and 22 Converted from a 7-point to a

5-point Likert scale and all options

were labeled with words. Added

climate change. Separated air and

water pollution. Dropped

endangered species, lawsuits,

regulations, and timber theft.

Changed unwanted plants to invasive

plant species.

35 Future selling/giving 27 23 Added subquestion on who will

away land receive it and why they are planning

to dispose it.

36 Conservation 28 –

attitudes

37 Demographics - 29a 24

retired

38 Demographics - 30a 24

occupation

39 Demographics - age 31a 25 Converted to continuous variable.

40 Demographics - 32a 28

gender

41 Demographics - 33a 26 Changed graduate degree to

education advanced degree.

42 Demographics - 34a and 35a 29

ethnicity and race

43 Demographics -

income 36a 27

44 Income from 37 –

forest/wooded land

a Asked for demographic information for up to two owners in version 5.1
22

Table 4.–Estimated area of forest and woodland ownerships (1+ acres) by category and state/region/nation, 2011-2013

All Ownerships Private

Total Total Family Corporate Tribala Other Private

Region/state Acres SEb Acres SEb Acres SEb Acres SEb Acres SEb Acres SEb

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - thousands - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

North

Connecticut 1,799 82 1,308 70 920 51 231 36 – – 157 30

Delaware 362 25 279 22 204 16 65 13 – – 10 6

Illinois 4,902 118 4,053 104 3,666 92 301 42 – – 86 25

Indiana 4,875 78 4,081 71 3,574 59 404 35 – – 104 19

Iowa 2,967 87 2,562 77 2,399 70 119 27 – – 43 15

Maine 17,636 210 16,355 202 5,575 130 10,173 142 – – 608 59

Maryland 2,462 99 1,812 86 1,296 66 408 49 – – 108 25

Massachusetts 3,036 106 1,954 84 1,380 62 335 43 – – 239 37

Michigan 20,357 221 12,602 196 9,114 151 2,797 106 – – 691 67

Minnesota 17,378 160 7,798 112 5,985 90 1,117 52 – – 696 43

Missouri 15,452 163 12,759 150 11,796 130 769 66 – – 195 35

New Hampshire 4,783 118 3,474 106 2,446 76 800 63 – – 228 37

New Jersey 2,002 90 971 65 584 47 274 37 – – 113 26

New York 18,950 220 14,088 202 10,669 151 2,738 118 – – 680 64

Ohio 8,162 141 7,012 129 5,797 101 932 70 – – 284 41

Pennsylvania 16,999 214 11,961 199 8,892 146 2,300 115 – – 769 71

Rhode Island 367 30 264 26 164 18 50 12 – – 50 14

Vermont 4,514 107 3,583 99 2,775 74 684 59 – – 124 27

West Virginia 12,186 195 10,596 189 6,459 132 3,989 130 – – 148 32

Wisconsin 17,101 146 11,947 125 9,775 99 1,490 63 – – 682 44

North total 176,293 640 129,458 574 93,469 434 29,975 331 1,339 68 4,676 165
23

Table 4.–(continued)

Public

Total Federal State Local

Region/state Acres SEb Acres SEb Acres SEb Acres SEb

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - thousands - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

North

Connecticut 492 44 14 9 304 29 174 31

Delaware 83 12 9 5 67 9 7 5

Illinois 849 55 382 25 220 31 247 37Indiana 794 33 380 20 366 23 49 11Iowa 405 42 118 23 188 27 98 21

Maine 1,281 58 186 26 884 38 211 34

Maryland 650 50 71 18 434 36 145 29Massachusetts 1,082 65 81 21 592 42 408 45Michigan 7,756 102 3,023 46 4,270 73 463 53Minnesota 9,581 114 2,878 38 4,077 79 2,625 73Missouri 2,693 66 1,871 45 737 42 86 22

New Hampshire 1,309 52 856 27 209 26 244 36

New Jersey 1,031 61 119 26 626 40 286 38

New York 4,863 89 151 29 4,121 59 591 60

Ohio 1,150 55 326 24 505 31 319 38

Pennsylvania 5,038 80 623 29 3,879 46 536 58

Rhode Island 104 15 <1 <1 61 11 43 10

Vermont 931 40 491 23 368 26 73 20

West Virginia 1,590 51 1,221 33 309 34 60 20Wisconsin 5,154 76 1,620 26 1,168 47 2,366 53

North total 46,835 282 14,420 121 23,384 185 9,031 175
24

Table 4.–(continued)

All Ownerships Private

Total Total Family Corporate Tribala Other Private

Region/state Acres SEb Acres SEb Acres SEb Acres SEb Acres SEb Acres SEb

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - thousands - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

South

Alabama 22,911 274 21,392 258 13,696 188 7,480 174 – – 216 35

Arkansas 18,966 258 15,308 227 8,866 164 5,609 141 – – 833 67

Florida 17,272 273 11,139 210 4,020 131 7,006 162 – – 114 25

Georgia 24,745 293 22,158 272 13,354 197 8,466 182 – – 338 43

Kentucky 12,510 189 11,070 168 9,148 138 1,844 93 – – 79 22

Louisiana 14,965 236 13,017 213 5,563 143 7,283 155 – – 172 32

Mississippi 19,468 263 17,151 239 11,803 178 4,657 146 – – 692 62

North Carolina 18,611 250 15,449 220 10,641 166 4,430 137 – – 378 46

Oklahoma 12,363 266 10,982 245 7,974 196 2,531 131 – – 477 68

South Carolina 13,044 214 11,471 194 7,236 142 4,071 128 – – 164 30

Tennessee 13,921 206 11,664 180 9,359 146 2,225 104 – – 80 21

Texas 61,792 588 58,072 566 42,440 457 12,309 286 – – 3,323 171

Virginia 15,883 227 13,017 198 9,625 154 3,156 119 – – 236 36

South total 266,449 1,040 231,892 951 153,725 728 71,065 568 350 55 6,752 221
25

Table 4.–(continued)

Public

Total Federal State Local

Region/state Acres SEb Acres SEb Acres SEb Acres SEb

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - thousands - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

South

Alabama 1,519 91 1,020 74 348 44 151 29

Arkansas 3,658 124 3,118 111 459 51 80 20

Florida 6,133 174 2,684 115 2,886 118 563 58

Georgia 2,587 111 1,798 90 443 49 345 43

Kentucky 1,440 87 1,191 78 179 32 70 19Louisiana 1,948 102 1,145 77 546 54 257 38Mississippi 2,317 110 1,832 97 239 37 246 37

North Carolina 3,161 119 2,148 94 744 63 270 37

Oklahoma 1,380 103 857 77 391 58 133 36

South Carolina 1,573 91 1,029 73 381 45 163 29

Tennessee 2,256 99 1,402 73 757 64 97 23

Texas 3,719 160 1,588 95 1,505 108 627 70

Virginia 2,867 111 2,270 96 349 44 247 36

South total 34,558 421 22,083 323 9,226 230 3,249 141
26

Table 4–(continued)

All Ownerships Private

Total Total Family Corporate Tribala Other Private

Region/state Acres SEb Acres SEb Acres SEb Acres SEb Acres SEb Acres SEb

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - thousands - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Rocky Mountain

Arizona 18,587 264 7,220 172 1,172 83 372 47 – – 5,677 143

Colorado 22,891 256 5,580 162 4,497 143 458 50 – – 625 58

Idaho 21,481 237 3,043 129 1,518 91 1,375 87 – – 150 29

Kansas 2,533 80 2,351 75 2,247 71 78 22 – – 26 13

Montana 25,597 276 6,957 190 3,611 136 2,069 105 – – 1,277 80

Nebraska 1,539 76 1,365 69 1,260 64 37 14 – – 68 20

Nevada 10,577 152 395 46 252 36 93 22 – – 50 17

New Mexico 24,839 310 10,799 234 6,626 192 601 66 – – 3,572 116

North Dakota 764 54 532 42 419 36 – – – – 113 23

South Dakota 1,929 67 807 60 540 48 36 12 – – 232 35

Utah 18,299 244 2,817 123 1,747 95 458 52 – – 612 59

Wyoming 10,401 351 1,549 199 1,214 173 56 41 – – 278 89

Rocky Mountain total 159,439 768 43,415 486 25,103 379 5,633 183 11,745 229 934 77

Pacific Coast

Alaska 127,575 1,150 36,083 639 4,030 210 31,939 566 – – 114 210

California 32,254 287 12,541 236 6,948 174 4,751 141 – – 842 75

Hawaii 1,748 196 1,155 173 723 118 124 44 – – 309 118

Oregon 29,704 225 10,719 199 3,590 128 6,299 136 – – 831 70

Washington 22,222 219 9,548 195 2,591 106 4,810 126 – – 2,147 105

Pacific Coast total 213,504 1,242 70,045 756 17,881 341 47,922 613 2,730 212 1,513 186

U.S. total 815,685 1,903 474,810 1,429 290,178 989 154,595 918 16,163 324 13,874 342
27

Table 4–(continued)

Public

Total Federal State Local

Region/state Acres SEb Acres SEb Acres SEb Acres SEb

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - thousands - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Rocky Mountain

Arizona 11,367 201 9,708 174 1,611 98 49 19

Colorado 17,311 198 16,648 188 570 57 94 23

Idaho 18,439 198 17,226 180 1,213 84 <1 <1

Kansas 181 27 131 23 26 10 24 11

Montana 18,640 201 17,661 187 962 74 18 9

Nebraska 174 31 87 20 74 21 13 8

Nevada 10,182 144 10,161 144 21 11 <1 <1

New Mexico 14,041 204 11,726 166 2,273 117 42 19

North Dakota 232 33 163 27 62 18 7 7

South Dakota 1,122 29 1,044 23 68 17 10 7

Utah 15,483 211 13,945 189 1,494 93 44 17

Wyoming 8,852 289 8,509 271 343 100 <1 <1

Rocky Mountain total 116,024 595 107,009 541 8,716 243 300 43

Pacific Coast

Alaska 91,493 955 63,752 795 27,475 528 266 47

California 19,713 164 18,630 150 699 48 384 46

Hawaii 593 93 12 14 573 91 8 11

Oregon 18,985 105 17,874 93 924 37 187 33

Washington 12,674 100 9,822 70 2,433 51 419 49

Pacific Coast total 143,458 985 110,090 817 32,104 542 1,264 89

U.S. total 340,875 1,257 253,601 1,039 73,430 664 13,844 245a Due to data confidentiality, Tribal is included with Other Private at the state levelb SE = standard error
28

Table 5.–Estimated area and estimated number

of private forest and woodland ownerships (1+

acres) by state/region/nation, 2011-2013

Area Ownerships

Region/state Acres SEa Number SEa

- - - - - - - thousands - - - - - - -

North

Connecticut 1,308 70 166 16

Delaware 279 22 22 3

Illinois 4,053 104 149 24

Indiana 4,081 71 193 22

Iowa 2,562 77 80 12

Maine 16,355 202 170 24

Maryland 1,812 86 149 16

Massachusetts 1,954 84 236 32

Michigan 12,602 196 375 51

Minnesota 7,798 112 213 21

Missouri 12,759 150 440 58

New Hampshire 3,474 106 196 41

New Jersey 971 65 124 15

New York 14,088 202 782 131

Ohio 7,012 129 486 62

Pennsylvania 11,961 199 574 75

Rhode Island 264 26 46 15

Vermont 3,583 99 148 20

West Virginia 10,596 189 184 30

Wisconsin 11,947 125 414 48

North total 129,458 574 5,147 206

South

Alabama 21,392 258 248 32

Arkansas 15,308 227 217 56

Florida 11,139 210 227 43

Georgia 22,158 272 462 106

Kentucky 11,070 168 422 81

Louisiana 13,017 213 135 25

Mississippi 17,151 239 284 68

North Carolina 15,449 220 566 101

Oklahoma 10,982 245 273 63

South Carolina 11,471 194 212 44

Tennessee 11,664 180 421 55

Texas 58,072 566 612 133

Virginia 13,017 198 534 94

South total 231,892 951 4,612 274
29

Table 5.–(continued)

Area Ownerships

Region/state Acres SEa Number SEa

- - - - - - - thousands - - - - - - -

Rocky Mountain

Arizona 7,220 172 95 50

Colorado 5,580 162 34 13

Idaho 3,043 129 28 8

Kansas 2,351 75 95 13

Montana 6,957 190 72 16

Nebraska 1,365 69 41 14

Nevada 395 46 5 1

New Mexico 10,799 234 449 192

North Dakota 532 42 26 21

South Dakota 807 60 17 7

Utah 2,817 123 39 13

Wyoming 1,549 199 88 87

Rocky Mountain total 43,415 486 988 220

Pacific Coast

Alaska 36,083 639 36 29

California 12,541 236 248 65

Hawaii 1,155 173 88 21

Oregon 10,719 199 172 47

Washington 9,548 195 172 40

Pacific Coast total 70,045 756 716 96

U.S. total 474,810 1,429 11,462 418

a SE = standard error

Note: Data may not sum to totals due to rounding
30

Table 6.–Estimated area and estimated number of

private forest and woodland ownerships (10+ acres)

by state/region/nation, 2011-2013

Area Ownerships

Region/state Acres SEa Number SEa

- - - - - - - thousands - - - - - - -

North

Connecticut 975 62 20 2

Delaware 239 20 4 <1

Illinois 3,794 120 83 7

Indiana 3,722 94 91 6

Iowa 2,430 86 51 5

Maine 16,070 211 89 7

Maryland 1,510 79 29 2

Massachusetts 1,514 83 30 3

Michigan 11,917 235 196 13

Minnesota 7,385 133 116 7

Missouri 11,979 210 214 15

New Hampshire 3,192 117 43 5

New Jersey 715 56 15 2

New York 12,504 305 203 14

Ohio 6,056 190 161 13

Pennsylvania 10,681 270 181 14

Rhode Island 192 29 7 2

Vermont 3,316 101 42 3

West Virginia 10,252 204 102 8

Wisconsin 11,083 187 193 11

North total 119,528 718 1,869 37

South

Alabama 20,921 293 160 15

Arkansas 15,116 240 115 11

Florida 10,687 224 77 10

Georgia 21,260 344 121 12

Kentucky 10,489 217 173 14

Louisiana 12,807 226 83 10

Mississippi 16,779 272 135 14

North Carolina 14,245 313 167 15

Oklahoma 10,638 263 120 12

South Carolina 11,120 215 90 9

Tennessee 10,601 246 152 13

Texas 57,240 630 345 35

Virginia 12,161 251 161 13

South total 224,066 1,103 1,898 56
31

Table 6.–(continued)

Area Ownerships

Region/state Acres SEa Number SEa

- - - - - - - thousands - - - - - - -

Rocky Mountain

Arizona 7,123 182 40 11

Colorado 5,580 162 34 13

Idaho 3,006 133 20 4

Kansas 2,219 84 60 6

Montana 6,808 193 31 4

Nebraska 1,298 76 20 3

Nevada 395 46 5 1

New Mexico 10,232 364 61 22

North Dakota 511 46 5 1

South Dakota 785 63 10 3

Utah 2,717 138 23 8

Wyoming 941 621 1 <1

Rocky Mountain total 41,615 820 310 30

Pacific Coast

Alaska 34,870 629 2 2

California 11,958 282 89 14

Hawaii 993 157 6 2

Oregon 10,438 211 45 7

Washington 9,141 209 52 7

Pacific Coast total 67,400 767 194 17

U.S. total 452,610 1,730 4,271 76

a SE = standard error

Note: Data may not sum to totals due to rounding
32

Table 7.–Estimated area and estimated number of

non-industrial private forest and woodland

ownerships (1+ acres) by state/region/nation,

2011-2013

Area Ownerships

Region/state Acres SEa Number SEa

- - - - - - - thousands - - - - - - -

North

Connecticut 1,308 76 166 17

Delaware 269 24 22 3

Illinois 4,053 125 149 24

Indiana 4,058 81 192 22

Iowa 2,562 91 80 12

Maine 14,607 239 170 24

Maryland 1,797 95 149 16

Massachusetts 1,954 93 236 33

Michigan 12,066 223 374 51

Minnesota 7,263 120 213 21

Missouri 12,677 196 440 59

New Hampshire 3,442 120 196 41

New Jersey 971 68 124 16

New York 13,656 234 759 119

Ohio 6,978 155 484 62

Pennsylvania 11,606 225 572 75

Rhode Island 264 28 46 15

Vermont 3,566 117 147 20

West Virginia 10,065 216 183 31

Wisconsin 11,321 142 407 48

North total 124,482 666 5,112 198

South

Alabama 19,652 249 248 32

Arkansas 12,512 211 215 56

Florida 10,366 207 225 43

Georgia 20,458 264 458 106

Kentucky 10,961 166 421 81

Louisiana 10,390 203 132 25

Mississippi 15,844 228 283 68

North Carolina 14,423 213 562 101

Oklahoma 10,464 260 272 63

South Carolina 11,327 193 211 44

Tennessee 11,520 179 419 55

Texas 57,777 572 611 133

Virginia 12,830 196 534 94

South total 218,523 943 4,591 273
33

Table 7.–(continued)

Area Ownerships

Region/state Acres SEa Number SEa

- - - - - - - thousands - - - - - - -

Rocky Mountain

Arizona 5,443 164 88 49

Colorado 5,580 165 34 13

Idaho 1,787 100 26 8

Kansas 2,351 89 95 14

Montana 5,525 169 72 16

Nebraska 1,365 74 41 14

Nevada 395 46 5 1

New Mexico 10,343 232 425 180

North Dakota 532 45 26 21

South Dakota 807 63 17 8

Utah 5,681 175 75 25

Wyoming 1,515 196 88 87

Rocky Mountain total 41,325 487 992 211

Pacific Coast

Alaska 36,043 640 36 29

California 9,180 219 242 63

Hawaii 1,155 173 88 21

Oregon 6,557 184 165 45

Washington 5,462 169 165 38

Pacific Coast total 58,396 741 695 94

U.S. total 442,726 1,456 11,390 409

a SE = standard error

Note: Data may not sum to totals due to rounding
34

Table 8.–Estimated area and estimated number of

non-industrial private forest and woodland

ownerships (10+ acres) by state/region/nation,

2011-2013

Area Ownerships

Region/state Acres SEa Number SEa

- - - - - - - thousands - - - - - - -

North

Connecticut 975 65 20 2

Delaware 229 21 4 <1

Illinois 3,794 136 83 7

Indiana 3,699 100 91 6

Iowa 2,430 98 51 5

Maine 14,322 246 88 7

Maryland 1,496 86 29 2

Massachusetts 1,514 88 30 3

Michigan 11,381 254 196 14

Minnesota 6,850 138 115 7

Missouri 11,897 241 214 15

New Hampshire 3,161 128 43 5

New Jersey 715 58 15 2

New York 12,102 314 203 14

Ohio 6,025 203 161 13

Pennsylvania 10,325 284 180 14

Rhode Island 192 30 7 2

Vermont 3,299 116 42 3

West Virginia 9,721 228 102 8

Wisconsin 10,486 192 190 11

North total 114,614 777 1,862 37

South

Alabama 19,182 285 160 15

Arkansas 12,321 225 114 11

Florida 9,914 221 76 10

Georgia 19,579 333 120 12

Kentucky 10,379 216 172 14

Louisiana 10,181 216 81 10

Mississippi 15,472 263 133 14

North Carolina 13,236 304 165 15

Oklahoma 10,120 275 119 12

South Carolina 10,976 215 90 9

Tennessee 10,460 244 151 13

Texas 56,945 636 344 35

Virginia 11,974 250 160 13

South total 210,739 1,093 1,885 56
35

Table 8.–(continued)

Area Ownerships

Region/state Acres SEa Number SEa

- - - - - - - thousands - - - - - - -

Rocky Mountain

Arizona 5,345 174 34 8

Colorado 5,580 165 34 13

Idaho 1,750 104 19 4

Kansas 2,219 95 60 6

Montana 5,376 172 30 4

Nebraska 1,298 81 20 3

Nevada 395 46 5 1

New Mexico 9,799 357 60 22

North Dakota 511 48 5 1

South Dakota 785 65 10 3

Utah 5,488 216 45 15

Wyoming 908 620 1 <1

Rocky Mountain total 39,455 826 322 32

Pacific Coast

Alaska 34,830 630 2 2

California 8,608 265 86 13

Hawaii 993 157 6 2

Oregon 6,287 195 43 6

Washington 5,068 183 48 7

Pacific Coast total 55,786 750 185 16

U.S. total 420,594 1,744 4,254 76

a SE = standard error

Note: Data may not sum to totals due to rounding
36

Table 9.–Estimated area and estimated number

of family forest and woodland ownerships (1+

acres) by state/region/nation, 2011-2013

Area Ownerships

Region/state Acres SEa Number SEa

- - - - - - - thousands - - - - - - -

North

Connecticut 920 51 155 16

Delaware 204 16 21 3

Illinois 3,666 92 132 22

Indiana 3,574 59 187 22

Iowa 2,399 70 77 12

Maine 5,575 130 165 24

Maryland 1,296 66 140 15

Massachusetts 1,380 62 189 24

Michigan 9,114 151 371 51

Minnesota 5,985 90 212 20

Missouri 11,796 130 438 58

New Hampshire 2,446 76 192 41

New Jersey 584 47 107 14

New York 10,669 151 635 80

Ohio 5,797 101 430 55

Pennsylvania 8,892 146 559 75

Rhode Island 164 18 43 15

Vermont 2,775 74 139 18

West Virginia 6,459 132 183 30

Wisconsin 9,775 99 391 48

North total 93,469 434 4,767 173

South

Alabama 13,696 188 247 32

Arkansas 8,866 164 214 56

Florida 4,020 131 215 43

Georgia 13,354 197 445 106

Kentucky 9,148 138 404 81

Louisiana 5,563 143 130 25

Mississippi 11,803 178 279 68

North Carolina 10,641 166 546 100

Oklahoma 7,974 196 264 63

South Carolina 7,236 142 207 44

Tennessee 9,359 146 413 54

Texas 42,440 457 595 133

Virginia 9,625 154 526 94

South total 153,725 728 4,487 272
37

Table 9.–(continued)

Area Ownerships

Region/state Acres SEa Number SEa

- - - - - - - thousands - - - - - - -

Rocky Mountain

Arizona 1,172 83 74 48

Colorado 4,497 143 32 13

Idaho 1,518 91 26 8

Kansas 2,247 71 94 13

Montana 3,611 136 71 16

Nebraska 1,260 64 41 14

Nevada 252 36 4 1

New Mexico 6,626 192 227 125

North Dakota 419 36 26 21

South Dakota 540 48 17 7

Utah 1,747 95 37 13

Wyoming 1,214 173 87 87

Rocky Mountain total 25,103 379 735 164

Pacific Coast

Alaska 4,030 210 36 29

California 6,948 174 246 65

Hawaii 723 118 83 21

Oregon 3,590 128 171 47

Washington 2,591 106 169 40

Pacific Coast total 17,881 341 704 96

U.S. total 290,178 989 10,693 375

a SE = standard error

Note: Data may not sum to totals due to rounding
38

Table 10.–Estimated area and estimated number

of family forest and woodland ownerships (10+

acres) by state/region/nation, 2011-2013

Area Ownerships

Region/state Acres SEa Number SEa

- - - - - - - thousands - - - - - - -

North

Connecticut 609 42 18 2

Delaware 164 14 4 <1

Illinois 3,435 108 76 6

Indiana 3,215 85 85 6

Iowa 2,268 80 48 5

Maine 5,307 144 86 7

Maryland 1,009 58 25 2

Massachusetts 1,007 60 26 2

Michigan 8,430 198 192 13

Minnesota 5,573 114 114 7

Missouri 11,016 196 212 15

New Hampshire 2,164 91 39 4

New Jersey 348 35 11 1

New York 9,274 244 197 14

Ohio 4,951 158 145 11

Pennsylvania 7,612 234 166 13

Rhode Island 100 22 6 2

Vermont 2,521 77 40 3

West Virginia 6,115 154 101 8

Wisconsin 9,011 162 183 11

North total 84,129 592 1,776 36

South

Alabama 13,225 233 159 15

Arkansas 8,674 181 112 11

Florida 3,568 152 65 9

Georgia 12,553 273 118 12

Kentucky 8,567 195 155 12

Louisiana 5,353 161 78 10

Mississippi 11,431 222 130 14

North Carolina 9,513 268 162 15

Oklahoma 7,630 218 112 12

South Carolina 6,885 170 86 9

Tennessee 8,296 222 145 12

Texas 41,607 535 329 35

Virginia 8,769 218 153 12

South total 146,072 910 1,802 55
39

Table 10.–(continued)

Area Ownerships

Region/state Acres SEa Number SEa

- - - - - - - thousands - - - - - - -

Rocky Mountain

Arizona 1,074 101 19 4

Colorado 4,497 143 32 13

Idaho 1,481 96 18 4

Kansas 2,115 81 59 6

Montana 3,462 140 29 4

Nebraska 1,193 72 20 3

Nevada 252 36 4 1

New Mexico 6,267 309 48 19

North Dakota 398 40 5 1

South Dakota 518 51 10 3

Utah 1,647 113 22 8

Wyoming 607 613 <1 <1

Rocky Mountain total 23,512 749 265 26

Pacific Coast

Alaska 2,418 166 2 2

California 6,365 232 87 14

Hawaii 566 96 6 1

Oregon 3,309 146 44 7

Washington 2,184 129 48 7

Pacific Coast total 14,842 359 187 17

U.S. total 268,555 1,367 4,030 72

a SE = standard error

Note: Data may not sum to totals due to rounding
Page intentionally left blank
Butler, Brett J.; Hewes, Jaketon H.; Dickinson, Brenton J.; Andrejczyk, Kyle; Butler, Sarah M.; 

Markowski-Lindsay, Marla. 2016. USDA Forest Service National Woodland Owner 

Survey: national, regional, and state statistics for family forest and woodland 

ownerships with 10+ acres, 2011-2013. Res. Bull. NRS-99. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. 

Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station. 39 p.

This report summarizes the results from the 2011-2013 National Woodland Owner Survey 

(NWOS) conducted by the U.S. Forest Service, Forest Inventory and Analysis program. 

The focus of the results reported here is family forest and woodland ownerships with 

holdings of at least 10 acres. Summaries are based on responses from 8,576 family 

ownerships with at least 10 acres of forest or woodland across 47 U.S. states. Survey 

summary tables are available at dx.doi.org/10.2737/NRS-RB-99 and include the 36 states 

in which the minimum target effective sample size of 100 respondents was obtained 

plus tables for the nation and four regions (North, South, Rocky Mountain, and Pacific 

Coast). An additional 11 states (Arizona, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Nebraska, New Mexico, 

North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, and Washington) have sample sizes 

between 10 and 99 and are included in national and regional summary tables, but statelevel survey summary tables are not being published due to small sample sizes. Data 

for three states (Alaska, Nevada, and Wyoming) are excluded due to the low numbers 

of respondents (n<10) in each of these states. The survey summary tables provide 

statistics on general forest ownership patterns, effective sample sizes, and responses to 

the questions asked on the survey. The 37 survey questions, many with multiple parts, 

focus on ownership characteristics, land characteristics, reasons for owning land, land 

ownership history, uses of the forest and woodland, sources of information, concerns, 

the future of their land, and demographics. For comparison purposes, summary tables 

from the 2002-2006 iteration of the NWOS are provided along with an additional set of 

2011-2013 regional and national summary tables where only states in common with the 

2002-2006 iteration are included. In addition, this report includes separate tables with 

estimated area and estimated number of private, nonindustrial private, and family forest 

and woodland ownerships by state.

KEY WORDS: landowner survey, private forest, family forest, nonindustrial private forest, 

United States.