Ownership of Pennsylvanias Forests: Past, Present, and Future

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Ownership of Pennsylvanias Forests Past,
Present, and Future

• Brett J. Butler
• USDA Forest ServiceNorthern Research
  StationForest Inventory and AnalysisFamily
  Forest Research Center

Pennsylvanias Third Forest Conference State
College, PA January 29-30, 2007
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Topics to be Covered

• Past
• Present
• National Woodland Owner Survey
• Sustaining Family Forests Initiative
• Future
• The Next Generation of Forest Owners

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Data Sources

• National Woodland Owner Survey
• U.S. Forest Service
• Sustaining Family Forests Initiative
• American Forest Foundation, Meadwestvaco, Roper
  Public Affairs, U.S. Forest Service, Yale,
• The Next Generation of Forest Owners
• Mater Engineering, Pinchot Institute, and U.S.
  Forest Service

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The past Its more than just history
USDA Forest Service Area of forestland in
Pennsylvania
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The present Its where its at
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Forest Ownership
United States
Pennsylvania
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Who are the family forest owners?

• Number of owners
• 198,000 owners
• Forested acres owned 8,046,000 acres
• Education (college degree)33
• Occupation (retirees)
• 48
• Average age62

Percent of Forestland
Owner Age (Years)
Percent of family forestland (10-999 ac) in
Pennsylvania National Woodland Owner Survey, 2004
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Size of Forest Holdings
Size of Forest Holdings (ac)
Percent of family forest owners and forestland
(10-999 ac) in Pennsylvania National Woodland
Owner Survey, 2004
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Ownership Objectives
Percent of family forestland (10-999 ac) in
Pennsylvania National Woodland Owner Survey, 2004
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Ownership Objectives (Continued)
Percent of family forestland (10-999 ac) in
Pennsylvania National Woodland Owner Survey, 2004
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Forest Management

• Timber Harvesting70 of family forestland
• Forest Management Plans8 of family forestland
• Professional Assistance30 of family forestland

Percent of family forestland (10-999 ac) in
Pennsylvania National Woodland Owner Survey, 2004
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Plans for the next 5 years?
Percent of family forestland (10-999 ac) in
Pennsylvania National Woodland Owner Survey, 2004
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Social Marketing

• Selling ideas, not products
• Steps
• Research
• Implementation
• Evaluation
• Examples
• Anti-smoking
• Drunk driving
• Smokey the Bear

The Sustaining Family Forests Initiative, 2006
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Multivariate Cluster Analysis
The Sustaining Family Forests Initiative, 2006
Percent of family forestland (10-999 ac) in
Pennsylvania
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Woodland Retreat Owners

• Most common ownership objectives- Aesthetics-
  Privacy- Conservation- Family legacy
• More likely to have- Smaller plots- Have
  purchased their land- Live on their land
• Less likely to - Use land for commercial
  purposes

The Sustaining Family Forests Initiative, 2006
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Supplemental Income Owners

• Most common ownership objectives- Land
  investment- Timber harvesting- Family legacy
• More likely to have- Larger forest holdings-
  Inherited their land- Plans to pass their forest
  land on- Participated in cost-share
• Less likely to have - Participated in
  certification- Conservation easements

The Sustaining Family Forests Initiative, 2006
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Working the Land Owners

• Most common ownership objectives- Commercial-
  Conservation- Recreation
• More likely to have- Larger forest holdings-
  Harvested trees- Have definite plans for their
  land- Participated in programs- Lower incomes
  - Be younger
• Less likely to- Be retired

The Sustaining Family Forests Initiative, 2006
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Ready to Sell Owners?

• Most common ownership objectives- None
• More likely to be- Absentee owners- Older

The Sustaining Family Forests Initiative, 2006
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Prime Prospect Analysis
The Sustaining Family Forests Initiative, 2006
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Prime Prospect Analysis Groups
The Sustaining Family Forests Initiative, 2006
Percent of family forestland (10-999 ac) in
Pennsylvania
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Mass Media Communications

• Based on the average landowner
• Newspapers and television are more promising than
  magazines or internet
• Many are involved in civic organizations
• Many are environmentally minded, but are not
  environmentalists
• Use the information above to identify the hooks

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A Social Marketing Example
We sold the family forest do we look happy?!?!?!
The Sustaining Family Forests Initiative, 2006
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Whats next? The future!
OR
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Age of the Current Owners
National Woodland Owner Survey, 2004 Percent of
family forest owners (1 ac), U.S.
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Age of the Offspring of the Current Owners
The Next Generation Ownership Study, 2006
Percent of family forest owners offspring, U.S.
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Absentee Owners

• 53 were not raised on family forestland
• 52 live out-of-state or not near the family
  forestland
• 40 wont live on the family forests in the
  future (another 44 arent sure)

The Next Generation Ownership Study, 2006
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Offspring Knowledge
The Next Generation Ownership Study, 2006
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Offsprings Reasons for Owning
The Next Generation Ownership Study, 2006
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Offspring's Top Challenges
The Next Generation Ownership Study, 2006
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Conclusions

• Ownership dynamics
• Will determine much of the fate of the forest
• Ownership diversity
• Need to appeal to owners needs and desires
• The future is now
• Need to look at the current and future owners

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Contact Information

• Brett Butler
• U.S. Forest Service
• 160 Holdsworth WayAmherst, MA
• bbutler01_at_fs.fed.us
• 413.545.1387