Family Forest Owners of the United States

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National Woodland Owner Survey

Family Forest Owners of the United States

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Butler, Brett 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. 72 p.
This report summarizes results from the U.S. Forest Service’s National Woodland Owner
Survey of the estimated 10 million family forest owners who own 264 million acres (35
percent) of forest land in the United States. We collected information between 2002 and
2006 on family forest owners’ forest holding characteristics, ownership histories, ownership
objectives, forest uses, forest management practices, preferred methods for receiving
information, concerns, future intentions, and demographics. National, regional, and state
summary tables are included.
KEY WORDS: landowner survey, National Woodland Owner Survey, nonindustrial private
forest owner

The Author
BRETT J. BUTLER, research forester, received a B.S. degree in natural resource
management and engineering from the University of Connecticut in 1995 and a Ph.D. in
forest science from Oregon State University in 2005. He joined the U.S. Forest Service in
1998 and the Northern Research Station’s Forest Inventory and Analysis program in 2000.
He coordinates the U.S. Forest Service’s National Woodland Owner Survey and co-leads the
Family Forest Research Center collocated with the University of Massachusetts-Amherst in
Amherst, MA.
Manuscript received for publication December 2007

Published by:
U.S. FOREST SERVICE
11 CAMPUS BLVD SUITE 200
NEWTOWN SQUARE PA 19073-3294
June 2008

For additional copies:
U.S. Forest Service
Publications Distribution
359 Main Road
Delaware, OH 43015-8640
Fax: (740)368-0152

Visit our homepage at: http://www.nrs.fs.fed.us/

CONTENTS
Executive Summary............................................................................................. 1
Introduction .......................................................................................................... 2
Findings ............................................................................................................... 7
General Ownership Patterns and Trends ........................................................ 7
Family Forest Owners ................................................................................... 10
Size of Forest Holdings ............................................................................. 10
Percent of Owner’s Land that is Forested and
Number of Parcels ................................................................................. 13
Ownership Types, Tenure, and History ...................................................... 13
Reasons for Owning Forest Land .............................................................. 15
Forest Land as Part of a Primary Home,
Secondary Home, or Farm .................................................................... 15
Leasing of Forest Land .............................................................................. 17
Participation in Cost-share, Easements, and
Sustainable Forest Certification Programs ............................................ 19
Decisionmakers ......................................................................................... 21
Timber Harvesting and Removals ............................................................. 21
Nontimber Forest Products ........................................................................ 23
Other Forest Uses ..................................................................................... 24
Forest Management Plans and Advice ...................................................... 25
Preferred Methods for Receiving Forest
Management Information ....................................................................... 27
Landowners’ Concerns .............................................................................. 28
Future Plans .............................................................................................. 29
Demographics ........................................................................................... 30
Conclusions ....................................................................................................... 32
Acknowledgments ............................................................................................. 33
Literature Cited .................................................................................................. 33
Appendix I. Data and Methods .......................................................................... 36
Index of Tables ................................................................................................. 39
Tables ............................................................................................................ 42

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
• An estimated 11 million private forest owners (± 3 percent) collectively control 56
percent of the forest land (423 million acres ± 0.4 percent) in the United States.
• Family forest owners account for 92 percent of the private forest owners and 62
percent of the private forest land (35 percent of all forest land) in the United States.
• Sixty-one percent of family forest owners in the United States own less than 10
acres of forest land, but 53 percent of the family forest land is owned by people with
100 or more acres.
• The average (mean) land tenure for family forest owners is 26 years.
• Most family forest owners own their forest land for multiple reasons. The most
commonly cited reasons are beauty/scenery, to pass land on to heirs, privacy, nature
protection, and part of home/cabin.
• Two out of every 5 acres of family forest land are owned by absentee owners.
• Fifty-eight percent of family forest land is owned by people who have commercially
harvested trees.
• One in 5 acres of family forest land is owned by someone who has a written forest
management plan. Two in 5 acres is owned by someone who has received forest
management advice. The most common sources of this advice are state forestry
agencies and private consultants.
• Issues most commonly rated as major concerns by family forest owners are insects
and plant diseases, keeping land intact for heirs, fire, trespassing, and property taxes.
• Most family forest owners plan to do relatively little with their forest land in
the next 5 years. Of those who intend to actively do something with their land,
harvesting sawlogs or pulpwood and harvesting firewood are the most commonly
planned activities. One in 5 acres is owned by someone who plans to sell or transfer
some or all of their forest land in the next 5 years.
• Compared to the general population, there are a greater proportion of family forest
owners who are older, white, male, more educated, and wealthier. One in 5 acres of
forest land is owned by someone who is at least 75 years of age.

1

INTRODUCTION
The National Woodland Owner Survey (NWOS) is conducted by the Forest Service, U.S.
Department of Agriculture, Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) program to characterize
the private forest owners of the United States. It is the social compliment to the biophysical
surveys FIA conducts. Previous national surveys of private forest owners, with varying levels
of details and comparability (see sidebar), were conducted by Birch (1996a), Birch et al.
(1982), and Josephson and McGuire (1958).
Family forest owners are the focus of this publication. Limited information for all forest
lands, private and public, is included to provide a broader context and to aid comparisons
with other studies. Family forest owners, forest land, and other pertinent terms are defined in
the “Key Definitions” sidebar. The basic relationships of the ownership categories used in this
report are summarized in Figure 1.
1
This publication summarizes the responses from 15,440 family forest owners (Table A) who
participated in the NWOS between 2002 and 2006. The over-all cooperation rate for the
NWOS is 51.3 percent. As described briefly in Appendix I: Data and Methods and in full
detail in Butler et al. (2005), the NWOS has been implemented on an annual basis since
2002; the 2002-2006 data reported here represents the first 5-year cycle of data collected
under this new system. The nominal date assigned to these data is 2006. The underlying
forest area estimates are derived from the 2007 Renewable Resources Planning Act (RPA)
database compiled by FIA for the Forest Resources of the United States, 2007 report (Smith
et al., in press).

All owners

Private

Public

Nonindustrial

Industrial

Family

Federal

State

Local

Other nonindustrial

Figure 1.—Ownership categorization used in this report. Colors correspond to the categories
used in Figure 4.

1

All tables referred to in the printed portion of this report can be found beginning on page 39.

2

Assessing Trends
Although similar methods were used in the 1993 (Birch 1996a) and 2006 national forest owner
surveys, analyzing trends between the two are hampered by:
• A lack of documentation of the 1993 forest area statistics that underlie all other statistics
• The 1993 study focuses on all private forest owners; this study focuses on family forest owners
• Additions, subtractions, and changes to questions asked
• Large sampling errors associated with owners of 1 to 9 acres of forest land
• Large sampling errors associated with states with small sample sizes
The implications of these issues are:
• The base 1993 forest area numbers do not always agree with other concurrent estimates
(e.g., Powell et al. 1994). To resolve this problem would require rerunning the 1993 numbers
using either ratio estimation procedures or, ideally, calculating new inclusion probabilities.
• Either the results from the 1993 survey must be subset to include only family forest owners or
the 2006 results need to be expanded. Both approaches have benefits and shortcomings,
including data limitations, that need to be further assessed.
• Although continuity over time was important in designing the 2006 survey, conscious
decisions were made to improve it. The wording and structure of the questions must be
considered.
• Trend comparisons excluding owners with 1 to 9 acres are more precise.
• The reliability of estimates derived from small sample sizes are questionable, sampling errors
need to be assessed, and, where necessary, larger geographic areas examined.
We strongly caution anyone wishing to make direct comparisons between the 1993 and 2006
results. We are currently developing methods to overcome the shortcomings listed above and
will make trend data available as soon as possible.

Key Definitions
Forest land—Land at least 10 percent stocked by forest trees of any size, including land that
formerly had such tree cover and that will be naturally or artificially regenerated. The minimum
area for classification of forest land is 1 acre (Smith et al. 2004).
Private forest owners—Families, individuals, corporations, and other private groups that own
forest land.
Forest industry owners—Corporations and other private groups that own forest land and own
and operate primary wood-processing facilities. This group is a subset of private forest owners.
Nonindustrial private forest owners—Families and individuals who own forest land and
corporations and other private groups that own forest land, but do not own and operate a
primary wood-processing facility. This group is a subset of private forest owners.
Family forest owners—Families, individuals, trusts, estates, family partnerships, and other
unincorporated groups of individuals that own forest land. This group is a subset of nonindustrial
private forest owners.

3

Figure 2.—Areas included in the National Woodland Owner Survey between 2002 and 2006 and
delineation of multi-state analysis regions.

This report primarily focuses on national level results, but regional (Fig. 2) and state data also
are included. Within a given geographic area, the tables are arranged in the same order as the
corresponding questions in the NWOS questionnaire (Butler et al. 2005).
Except for Tables A and B, results are presented in terms of numbers of owners and area
of forest land. These two ways of looking at the data often show different, and sometimes
divergent, patterns. Both approaches are legitimate and the appropriate choice depends on one’s
objectives. For example, land managers interested in the prospective impact of policies on the
landscape would be most interested in the area estimates. Managers interested in the number,
and hence political power, of private owners impacted by policies would need to know the
number of owners potentially impacted. In addition, some will want to consider only certain
segments of family forest owners (e.g., owners with forest holdings of 10 to 999 acres). This,
too, is perfectly reasonable, but the number of permutations that people may want to examine
is nearly infinite and for simplicity’s sake, the family forest owner results presented here are
for owners with 1 or more acres of forest land. The “Size of Forest Holdings Matter” sidebars
highlight the relationships between the size of forest holdings and selected attributes.
No data were collected for interior Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada, western Oklahoma, or western
Texas between 2002 and 2006 (Fig. 2). Nor were data colleted for Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin
Islands, Guam, or any other U.S. territories or protectorates. The usual sampling frames for
these areas were lacking; it is anticipated that during the next 5-year iteration of the NWOS,
the coverage will be expanded to cover all parts of all states. During this same period, planning
for implementation in the U.S. territories and protectorates will commence. Data for interior
4

Owners vs. Area
Forest ownership statistics can be analyzed in terms of owners or
area. For example, in absolute terms:
• There are 6.2 million family forest owners (± 4 percent) with
forest holdings of 1 to 9 acres in the United States (Table US-5)
• There are 19.2 million acres of forest land (± 6 percent) that
are owned by family forest owners with forest holdings of 1 to
9 acres in the United States (Table US-5)
Equivalently, in relative terms:
• Sixty-one percent of the family forest owners in the United
States have forest holdings of 1 to 9 acres
• Eight percent of the family forest land in the United States is
owned by people with forest holdings of 1 to 9 acres
Tables in this report include summaries in terms of both owners and
area. Data users should choose the summaries that are most useful
to them—this may require examining owner, area, or owner and
area statistics.

Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada, western Oklahoma, and western Texas are included in Tables B to E
using data from Birch (1996c, 1996d) as described below, but are not included in any other
tables.
The NWOS population estimates, such as numbers of family forest owners in a state, are just
that – estimates. These estimates come from a systematic, random sample so the sampling
frame is unbiased, but because not all owners are included (i.e., a complete enumeration is
not conducted), sampling errors exist. Sampling errors are reported for all estimates in this
publication and the “Sampling Errors” sidebar provides a primer on how to interpret them.
Appendix I: Data and Methods contains, among other things, information on the methods used
to minimize sampling and other potential survey-related errors.
The stated precision goal of the NWOS is a sampling error of 15 percent or lower for estimates
of the number of family forest owners in a state (Butler et al. 2005). This will require minimum
sample sizes of approximately 250. This goal has yet to be achieved in all states (Fig. 3, Table A).
Sampling errors are relatively large for states with sample sizes significantly lower than the target
size. Data users are strongly encouraged to examine the sample sizes and sampling errors to
assess the precision of the estimates. If the precision level is lower than a data user desires, larger
geographic areas should be examined.
As an annual survey, the NWOS is continually collecting and compiling new data. We plan
to publish reports similar to this one every 5 years or so. An online data summary tool has
been developed to provide access to the most up-to-date information and for the generation of
customized NWOS tables. The latest NWOS results and information can be accessed at:
www.fia.fs.fed.us/nwos.
5

Sampling Errors
Sampling errors arise when not all members of a population are surveyed. Sampling errors
are included for all estimates in this report. They are reported in percentage terms and
represent the 68 percent confidence level. For example, there are an estimated 10,398
thousand family forest owners in the United States and the sampling error associated with
this estimate is 2.6 percent (Table E). This means that 68 percent of randomly selected
samples will produce estimates between 10,124 and 10,671, or 10,398 ± 274. This range is
referred to as a confidence interval. Stated another way, we are 68 percent confident
that the true population estimate is between 10,124 and 10,671. The 68 percent
confidence level is equivalent to one standard deviation and is the traditional level for
reporting sampling errors. Confidence levels can be adjusted to meet users’ needs. For
example, multiply sample errors by 2 to calculate 95 percent confidence intervals. When
examining sampling errors in this report, the following general guidance can be used:
Sampling error

Implications

< 25%

Sampling errors should be considered when interpreting
results.

25% - 49%

Sampling errors should be considered when interpreting
results and estimates should be used cautiously.

≥ 50%

Sampling errors should be considered when interpreting
results and estimates should be used very cautiously.

Appendix I: Data and Methods of this report describes how the sampling errors were
calculated.

Figure 3.—Number of family forest owners who participated in (i.e., responded to) the National
Woodland Owner Survey between 2002 and 2006.

6

United States

Local
State
1%
9%

Family
35%
Federal
33%
Other
private
21%

South

North

Local
4%

State
13%
Federal
8%

State Local
Federal 3%
1%
9%

Family
55%

Other
private
20%

Family
58%

Other
private
28%

Pacific Coast

Rocky Mountain

Local
Family
State
<1%
16%
5%

State
15%

Other
private
9%

Federal
70%

Local Family
<1% 9%

Other
private
24%

Federal
51%

Figure 4.—Area of forest land in the United States by ownership and region, 2006.

FINDINGS
General Ownership Patterns and Trends
An estimated 11 million private forest owners (± 3 percent) collectively control 56 percent of the
forest land (423 million acres ± 0.4 percent) in the United States (Fig. 4, Tables B and C). The
percentage of forest land that is privately owned varies widely across the nation (Figs. 5 and 6)
from a low of 2 percent in Nevada to a high of 95 percent in Kansas. Most of the private forest
land is located in the southern and northern United States and so, too, are most of the private
forest owners. Forty-four percent of the nation’s private forest land and 44 percent of the private
forest owners are in the South. The North has 30 percent of the nation’s private forest land and
44 percent of the private forest owners. The states with the largest areas of private forest land,
each with more than 15 million acres, are Alaska, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Maine, Texas,
North Carolina, and Arkansas (Fig. 6A). The states with the highest percentages of private
forest ownership, each with at least 90 percent, are Kansas, Texas, Maine, Alabama, Delaware,
Oklahoma, and Georgia. The states with the greatest numbers of private owners, each with more
than 500,000, are New York, Tennessee, North Carolina, Georgia, and Florida (Fig. 6B).
7

8
Produced by:
USDA Forest Service, Northern Research Station
Forest Inventory and Analysis, Family Forest Research Center
Brett J. Butler (21-May-08)

Water

Nonforest land

Public forest

Private forest

Figure 5.—Private and public forest land in the United States. An electronic version of this map is available on the CD in the back of this publication.

Data sources:
Forest area - USGS National Land Cover Database 2001
Ownership - CBI Protected Areas Database, Version 4.0
State and countries - ESRI Data & Maps 2006

Forest Ownership in the Coterminous United States, 2006

A

B

Figure 6.—(A) Area of private forests, and (B) number of private forests owners in the United States, 2006.

9

Nationally, family forest owners dominate the private forest owner category in terms of acres
(Fig. 4) and numbers of owners. Ninety-two percent of the private forest owners were classified
as family forest owners (Tables C and E). Thirty-five percent of all forest land in the United
States is owned by families and individuals (Table B); in the coterminous United States, this
percentage increases to 42 percent. In the major timber-producing regions of the country,
forest industry and forest management companies, including timber investment management
organizations (TIMOs) and timber-oriented real estate investment trusts (REITs), control
most of the “other private” forest land. In other parts of the country, land conservation groups,
real estate companies, and other private corporations and groups, control much of the “other
private” forest land. The large-scale divestiture of forest industry lands over the past decade and
the related increases of TIMO and REIT holdings is a major change in private forest ownership
in the United States, but is outside the scope of this report.

Family Forest Owners
Nationally, there are 10.4 million family forest owners (± 3 percent) who own 264 million acres
of forest land (± 0.4 percent) (Table E). Due to the lack of ownership survey data being collected
in interior Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada, western Oklahoma, and western Texas noted previously (Fig.
2), national tables and the Southern, Rocky Mountain, and Pacific Coast regional tables exclude
these areas. This makes the reference population for the national tables the 10.2 million family
forest owners (± 3 percent) who own 252 million acres (± 0.4 percent) (Table US-5).
Size of Forest Holdings

80

7

70

6

Area

60

5

Owners
50

4
40
3
30
2

20

1

10
0

0
1-9

10-19

20-49

50-99

100-199 200-499 500-999

10004999

50009999

10000+

Size of forest holdings (acres)

Figure 7.—Size of family forest owners’ forest holdings in the United States, 2006. Error bars
represent 68 percent confidence intervals.

10

Owners (millions)

Area (millions of acres)

Most family forest owners in the United States own less than 10 acres of forest land, but 53
percent of the family forest land is owned by people with 100 or more acres (Fig. 7, Table US-5).

A
Proportion of Family Forest Land

1.00
0.90
0.80
0.70
0.60
0.50
0.40
0.30

Management plan

0.20
0.10

Management advice
Commercial harvest

0.00
0

2000

4000

6000

8000

10000

Size of forest holdings (acres)

B
Proportion of Family Forest Land

1.00
0.90

Management plan

0.80

Management advice

0.70

Commercial harvest

0.60
0.50
0.40
0.30
0.20
0.10
0.00
1

10

100

1000

10000

Size of Forest Holdings (acres)
Figure 8.—Relationships between size of forest holdings and timber harvesting, forest management
plans, and forest management advice for family forest owners in the United States, 2006. The x axis
in Figure 8A is an arithmetic scale and in Figure 8B it is a logarithmic scale. Error bars represent 68
percent confidence intervals.

Size of forest holdings is highly correlated with many of the behaviors and attitudes of family
forest owners (Fig. 8). Interspersed throughout this report are “Size of Forest Holdings Matter”
sidebars that highlight differences among owners by size of forest holdings.
Nationally, the average size of family forest holdings is 25 acres. This ranges from an average
of 6 acres in Rhode Island to 96 acres in Montana (Fig. 9A). Excluding owners with less than
10 acres of forest land, the average holding size increases to 58 acres with a low of 25 acres in
Delaware and a high of 406 acres in New Mexico (Fig. 9B). Average forest holdings tend to
be smaller in the North, particularly between Massachusetts and Maryland, and larger in the
Intermountain region.

11

A

B

Figure 9.—Average size of family forest holdings for owners with (A) 1 or more acres of forest land,
and (B) 10 or more acres of forest land in the Unites States, 2006.

12

Does the Size of Forest Holdings Matter?
As illustrated in Figure 8, size of forest holdings can be highly correlated with
family forest owner characteristics. In this publication, “Size of Forest Holdings
Matter” sidebars highlight selected attributes as functions of the size of forest
holdings. The five size categories and area and number of family forests in each
category are:
Size of forest
landholdings

Area

Ownerships

Acres

Sampling
error

Number

Sampling
error

Thousands

Percent

Thousands

Percent

1-9

19,158

6.4

6,220

4.4

10-49

58,585

3.1

2,831

2.2

50-99

41,562

3.2

644

2.3

100-999

97,667

2.5

508

2.1

1,000+

35,003

5.6

19

8.3

Acres

The “Size of Forest Holdings Matter” sidebars show the percentage of the owners
and forest land with various attributes. The numbers following the bars are the
actual percentages. The estimated area of forest land or number of owners
represented by each bar can be calculated by multiplying the percentage
listed by the base sizes above. Interior Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada, western
Oklahoma, and western Texas are not included in the base sizes above or any
of the “Size of Forest Holdings Matter” figures.

Percent of Owner’s Land that is Forested and Number of Parcels
2
The total land holdings of 19 percent of family forest owners, who own 19 percent of the
family forest land, is completely forested (Table US-6). Forty percent of family forest owners,
who own 52 percent of the family forest land, own land that is 50 to 99 percent forested. The
other 41 percent of family forest owners, who own 29 percent of the family forest land, own
land that is less than 50 percent forested.

Two-thirds of the family forest owners, who own 42 percent of the family forest land, have all of
their forest land in a single, contiguous parcel (Table US-7). Thirty-three percent of the owners,
who own 50 percent of the family forest land, have 2 to 9 parcels of forest land. The other 1
percent of the family forest owners, who own 8 percent of the family forest land, have 10 or
more parcels of forest land.
Ownership Types, Tenure, and History
Most (93 percent) family forest owners own some or all of their land either individually or
jointly; collectively, they own 84 percent of the family forest land (Table US-11). Other
relatively common forms of ownership are family partnerships, 6 percent of the family forest
2

All percentages exclude owners who did not answer the specific question (i.e., item nonresponse).

13

50
45
Area
Owners

40
35

Percent

30
25
20
15
10
5
0
<10

10-24

25-49

50+

Land ownership tenure (years)
Figure 10.—Land tenure of family forest owners in the United States, 2006. Error bars represent 68
percent confidence intervals.

owners who own 16 percent of the family forest land; and trusts and estates, 4 percent of the
family forest owners who own 9 percent of the family forest land. These percentages sum to
more than 100 because some owners own different portions of their forest land under different
legal arrangements.
Purchasing land is the most common method for forest land acquisition, but inheritance is also
relatively common (Table US-8). Eighty-two percent of the family forest owners, who own 78
percent of the family forest land, purchased some or all of their forest land. Twenty percent of
the owners, who own 36 percent of the family forest land, inherited some or all of their land.
Most received their land from a nonfamily member, but only slightly less either purchased it or
inherited it from a family member.
Most family forest owners have owned their land for relatively long periods of time (Fig. 10,
Table US-9). Forty percent of the owners, who own 53 percent of the family forest land, have
owned their land for 25 years or more. The average (mean) land tenure is 26 years.
Although most owners have owned land for relatively long periods of time, 24 percent of
the family forest owners, who own 33 percent of the family forest land, have sold, passed on,
or otherwise transferred some of it (Table US-10). Not surprisingly, owners with larger land
holdings are more likely to have transferred land (see sidebar).

14

Size of Forest Holdings Matter: Land Tenure and Land Transfers
Percentage of family forest land and family forest owners who (A) have owned
their forest land for at least 25 years, and (B) have transferred some of their forest
land to other owners, by size of forest holdings.

75
71

1,000+
53
54

100-999

49
50

50-99

42
44

10-49

Owners

37
37

1-9
0

25

Area
50

75

100

Size of Forest Holdings (acres)

B
Size of Forest Holdings (acres)

A

53
52

1,000+
32
34

100-999
50-99

26
25

10-49

25
25

Owners

21
21

1-9
0

Percent

25

Area
50

75

100

Percent

Reasons for Owning Forest Land
The reasons for owning forest land vary appreciably among family forest owners but a common
trend is that most owners have multiple objectives. The NWOS asked respondents to rate
12 potential reasons for owning forest land. At least half of the family forest land is owned
by people who rated beauty/scenery, passing land on to heirs, privacy, nature protection, and
3
part of home/cabin as important or very important (Fig. 11, Table US-13). Of the financial
objectives they were asked to rate, land investment was rated as important or very important by
38 percent of the family forest owners, who own 47 percent of the family forest land. Timber
production was rated as important or very important by 10 percent of the family forest owners,
who own 32 percent of the family forest land.
Forest Land as Part of a Primary Home, Secondary Home, or Farm
Related to these ownership objectives, it is not surprising that most family forest owners, 73
percent of the family forest owners who own 59 percent of the family forest land, have their
primary residence on or near (within 1 mile) their forest land (Table US-12). Secondary
residences (e.g., vacation homes or cabins) are less common, but owners with secondary
residences associated with their land, 12 percent of the family forest owners who control 22
percent of the family forest land, still control a large amount of land: 48.8 million acres (± 3
percent).

3

Very important and important refers to values of 1 and 2, respectively, on a seven-point Likert scale with
1 defined as very important and 7 defined as not important.

15

Size of Forest Holdings Matter: Ownership Objectives
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, by size of forest holdings.

A
51
53

1,000+

Size of Forest Holdings (acres)

Size of Forest Holdings (acres)

B

36
40

100-999
25
26

50-99
13
15

10-49

Owners

5
6

1-9
0

Area
25

50

75

Area

64
63

100-999
50-99

67
67

10-49

67
67
74
74

1-9
0

100

Owners

61
56

1,000+

25

50

75

100

Percent

Percent

Beauty/scenery
Pass land on to heirs
Privacy
Reason for Owning*

Nature protection
Part of home or cabin
Land investment
Hunting or fishing
Part of farm or ranch
Other recreation

Owners
Area

Timber production
Firewood production
Cultivate/collect NTFPs**
0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

Percent
* Includes owners who rated the specific objective as very important (rating = 1) or important (rating = 2) on a seven
point Likert scale with one defined as very important and seven as not important.
** Nontimber forest products

Figure 11.—Reasons for owning family forests in the United States, 2006. Error bars represent 68 percent
confidence intervals.

16

80

Size of Forest Holdings Matter: Absentee Ownership

Size of Forest Holdings (acres)

Percentage of family forest land and family forest owners who do not live
on or near (within one mile) their forest land, by size of forest holdings.
51
51

1,000+

43
45

100-999

38
39

50-99

32
34

10-49

Owners

22
25

1-9
0

25

Area
50

75

100

Percent

One-quarter of the family forest owners, who own 41 percent of the family forest land, reported
that their land is associated with a farm or ranch (Table US-12). This equates to 2.4 million
family forest owners (± 5 percent) and 100 million acres of forest land (±2 percent). From an
occupational perspective, 5 percent of the family forest owners, who own 10 percent of the
family forest land, reported that their primary occupation is a farmer (Table US-28). This
equates to 445 thousand family forest owners (± 23 percent) and 22 million acres of forest
land (± 7 percent). The National Agricultural Statistics Service (2004) reported that there were
818,000 farms owning a total of 76 million acres of “woodland” in 2002. These differences
deserve further investigation, but are likely related to how leased land and gentleman/
gentlewoman/hobby farms are reported, the definitions of woodland and farmland, and the
inclusion or exclusion of corporate and other nonfamily owned farms. Regardless of the specific
statistics, a significant amount of U.S. forest land is associated with farms.
Leasing of Forest Land
Five percent of the family forest owners, who own 23 percent of the family forest land, have
leased their forest land (Table US-14). Hunting and grazing are the most common lease
activities. Both the relative proportions of family forest land being leased and the purposes of
these leases vary considerably across the country (Fig. 12). In the North, where leases are least
common, recreation is the most common purpose for leasing. In the South, most leases are for
hunting. Grazing is the most common lease activity in the Rocky Mountain and Pacific Coast
regions.

17

Leased for:
Hunting
Other recreation
Grazing
Timber production
Other

United States

No
77%

Yes
23%

North

No
90%

South

Yes
10%

Rocky Mountain

No
65%

Yes
35%

Yes
30%

No
70%

Pacific Coast

No
71%

Yes
29%

* Percentages are in terms of family forest land.
Figure 12.—Leasing of forest land and relative frequency of lease activities by family forest owners in
the United States by region, 2006*.

18

Size of Forest Holdings Matter: Leasing

Size of Forest Holdings (acres)

Percentage of family forest land and family forest owners who have
leased their forest land, by size of forest holdings.
55

1,000+

66

23
28

100-999
11
11

50-99
6
7

10-49

Owners

3
4

1-9
0

Area
25

50

75

100

Percent

Participation in Cost-share, Easements, and Sustainable Forest Certification Programs
Most family forest owners have not participated in cost-share programs, have not participated in
a forest certification program, nor do they have an easement on their land (Fig. 13). Cost-share
programs may be sponsored by federal or state agencies or private groups. Examples of federal
programs include the Conservation Reserve Program, the Environmental Quality Incentives
Program, the Forest Land Enhancement Program, and the Forest Stewardship Program.
Six percent of the family forest owners, who own 21 percent of the family forest land, have
participated in at least one cost-share program (Table US-17).
Forest certification programs have been established to recognize and encourage sustainable
forest management. Common forest certification systems or programs include American Tree
Farm, Green Tag, Forest Stewardship Council, and Sustainable Forestry Initiative. Although 12
percent of the family forest owners, who own 24 percent of the family forest land, have heard
of sustainable forest certification, less than 1 percent of the family forest owners, who own 4
percent of the family forest land, are currently enrolled (Table US-16). Another 2 percent of the
owners, who control an additional 6 percent of the family forest land, are considering getting
their land certified.
Conservation easements are legally binding agreements that restrict land from being used for
certain designated purposes; they are voluntarily entered into by the landowner. Although the
NWOS questionnaire provided a definition of conservation easements (Butler et al. 2005),
it failed to mention the voluntary nature of the agreements and many respondents included
rights-of-way and other easements in their responses. This shortcoming will be rectified in
future iterations of the NWOS. Statistics reported here include only owners who indicated
that land use conversion is restricted, but these numbers are still high compared to other
sources (e.g., Land Trust Alliance 2006). Consequently, the easements reported here should be
interpreted as including conservation easements as well as all other easements. Easements are
on some or all of the forest land owned by 2 percent of the family forest owners, who own 4
percent of the family forest land (Table US-15).
19

Area

Yes
6%

Yes
21%

Cost-share

No
79%

No
94%

Yes
4%

Sustainable
forest
certification

No
96%

Easements

Owners

Yes
4%

No
96%

Yes
1%

No
99%

Yes
2%

No
98%

Figure 13.—Participation in cost-share programs, sustainable forest certification, and easements by
family forest owners in the United States, 2006.

20

Size of Forest Holdings Matter: Cost-share, Easements, and Certification
Percentage of family forest land and family forest owners who have participated in (A) costshare, (B) easement, and (C) certification programs, by size of forest holdings.

B
48
45

1,000+

Size of Forest Holdings (acres)

Size of Forest Holdings (acres)

A

23
27

100-999
14
14

50-99
6
7

10-49

Owners

3
3

1-9
0

Area
25

50

75

5
7

1,000+
100-999

4
4

50-99

3
3

10-49

2
2

1-9

2
2

100

Owners
Area

0

25

Percent

50

75

100

Percent

Size of Forest Holdings (acres)

C
9

1,000+
100-999

4
4

50-99

3
3

10-49

1
1

1-9

0
0
0

12

Owners
Area
25

50

75

100

Percent

Decisionmakers
Most family forest owners, 92 percent of the family forest owners who own 87 percent of the
family forest land, make the management decisions for their forest land themselves (Table US18). Other family members or a forester are the most common other decisionmakers.
Timber Harvesting and Removals
Although timber production is a primary ownership objective of a minority of the owners
(Table US-13), harvesting and removal of trees are still fairly common (Table US-19). About
46 percent of the family forest owners, who own 69 percent of the family forest land, have
harvested or removed trees from some or all of their land (Fig. 14). The number of commercial
4
harvests is lower; 27 percent of the family forest owners, who own 58 percent of the family
forest land, have commercially harvested trees. The most common reasons for harvesting are
related to the maturity, vigor, and health of the forest (Fig. 15, Table US-19).
4

Defined as harvests of sawlogs, pulpwood, and/or veneer logs.

21

Area

None
31%

Owners

Commercial
58%

None
54%

Noncommercial
11%

Commercial
27%
Noncommercial
19%

Figure 14.—Commercial and noncommercial harvesting and removal of trees by family forest
owners in the United States, 2006.

Trees were mature
Improve quality of remaining trees
Remove trees damaged by natural
catastrophes

Reason for Harvesting

Part of management plan
Wood for personal use
Needed money
Price was right
Clear land
Improve hunting

Owners
Area

Improve recreation
Other
0

10

20

30

40

50

Percent of Harvesters
Figure 15.—Reasons for harvesting or removing trees by family forest owners in the United
States, 2006. Error bars represent 68 percent confidence intervals.

22

60

Size of Forest Holdings Matter: Timber Harvesting
Percentage of family forest land and family forest owners who have
commercially harvested trees, by size of forest holdings.
73
72

Size of Forest Holdings (acres)

1,000+

65
69

100-999
54
55

50-99
36
39

10-49

Owners

16
19

1-9
0

25

Area
50

75

100

Percent

Area

No
77%

Yes
23%

Owners

No
82%

Products:
Edibles
Medicinal and dietary
supplements
Decorative, floral, or craft,
including landscaping transplants
Other including items of
cultural or religious importance

Yes
18%

Figure 16.—Collection of nontimber forest products and relative frequency of
types of products collected by family forest owners in the United States, 2006.

Nontimber Forest Products
Nontimber forest products (NTFPs), such as mushrooms, pine straw, berries, maple sap, or
landscaping transplants, have been harvested or collected on 23 percent of the family forest
land owned by 18 percent of the family forest owners (Fig. 16, Table US-20). Most of these
NTFPs were collected for personal use (as opposed to being collected for sale) and most were
categorized as either edible or decorative.
23

Private recreation
Posting land
Road/trail maintenance
Timber harvest

Activity

Tree planting
Wildlife habitat improvement
Fire hazard reduction
Site preparation
Application of chemicals
Collection of NTFPs*

Owners
Area

Public recreation
None of the above
0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Percent
* Nontimber forest products

* Nontimber forest products

Figure 17.—Forest activities by family forest owners in the United States, 2006. Error bars represent
68 percent confidence intervals.

Other Forest Uses
Other common activities that occur on family forest lands include: recreation, road/trail
maintenance, and tree planting (Fig. 17, Table US-22). Recreation is primarily by the
landowner, their family, and friends and many landowners post their land to discourage others
from accessing it. Seven percent of the family forest owners, who own 15 percent of the family
forest land, allow the general public to recreate on their land.

24

Area

Owners
Maybe
1%

Maybe
2%

Plans

Yes
4%

Yes
17%

No
95%

No
81%

Advice
Yes
37%
No
63%

Yes
15%

No
85%

Figure 18.—Management plans and advice received by family forest owners in the United States, 2006.

Forest Management Plans and Advice
Four percent of the family owners, who own 17 percent of the family forest land, report
having a written forest management plan (Fig. 18, Table US-21). When asked if they received
advice about their forest land, these percentages increase substantially, but still well below half
answered affirmatively; 14 percent of the family forest owners, who own 37 percent of the
family forest land, received advice about their forest land (Table US-23). The most common
sources of advice are state forestry agencies and private consultants (Fig. 19).

25

State forestry agency
Private consultant

Source of Advice

Federal agency
Logger
Another landowner
Extension

Owners
Area

Forest industry
Other state agency
Other
0

5

10

15

20

25

Percent
Figure 19.—Sources of forest management advice for family forest owners in the United States, 2006.
Error bars represent 68 percent confidence intervals.

Size of Forest Holdings Matter: Management Plans and Advice
Percentage of family forest land and family forest owners who have (A) written forest
management plans, and (B) received forest management advice, by size of forest holdings.

B
39
41

1,000+
18
21

100-999
11
12

50-99
5
5

10-49

Owners

1
1

1-9
0

Area
25

50
Percent

26

Size of Forest Holdings (acres)

Size of Forest Holdings (acres)

A

75

100

62

1,000+

69

41
45

100-999
28
29

50-99
18
20

10-49

Owners

9
10

1-9
0

Area
25

50
Percent

75

100

Preferred Method to Receive Forest Management Information*

Talking with a forester
Books/pamphlets
Newsletters/magazines
Talking with other
owners
Videos
Visiting others'
woodlands
Internet
Television/radio
Conferences and
workshops

Owners
Area

Talking with a logger
Organization
membership
0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

Percent
* Includes owners who rated the specific method as very useful (rating = 1) or useful (rating = 2) on a seven
* Includes owners who rated the specific method as very useful (rating = 1) or useful
point Likert scale with 1 defined as very useful and 7 as not useful.

Figure 20.—Preferred methods to receive information about forest management for family forest
owners in the United States, 2006. Error bars represent 68 percent confidence intervals.

Preferred Methods for Receiving Forest Management Information
Talking with a forester, publications, and newsletters were rated as useful or very useful5
methods for obtaining forest management information by at least one-third of the owners, who
own at least one-third of the family forest land (Fig. 20, Table US-24). The next tier of preferred
methods to receive information includes talking with other owners, videos, visiting other
owners’ forests, and the Internet. It is clear that there is no single preference for all owners and
many owners are interested in multiple methods.

5

Includes owners who rated the specific methods as very useful (rating = 1) or useful (rating = 2) on a
seven point Likert scale with 1 defined as very useful and 7 as not useful.

27

Insects or plant diseases
Keeping land intact for heirs
Fire
Trespassing or poaching
High property taxes

Landowner Concerns*

Misuse of forest land**
Wind or ice storms
Air or water pollution
Undesirable plants
Development of nearby land
Harvesting regulations
Lawsuits
Timber theft
Dealing with endangered species
Motorized vehicles***

Owners
Area

Lack of new trees
Wild animals
Domestic animals
0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Percent

Includes
rated
theasspecific
issue as
a great
=1
* Includes*owners
whoowners
rated thewho
specifi
c issue
a great concern
(rating
= 1 concern
or 2) on a(rating
seven point
Likert scale
1 defi
ned as point
great concern
7 as
no concern.
orwith
2) on
a seven
Likert and
scale
with
1 defined as great concern and 7
** Includes vandalism
and illegal dumping.
as no concern.
*** Includes
and
noise from and
unauthorized
motorized vehicles.
** damage
Includes
vandalism
illegal dumping.

*** Includes damage and noise from unauthorized motorized vehicles.
Figure 21.—Concerns of family forest owners in the United States, 2006. Error bars represent 68
percent confidence intervals.

Landowners’ Concerns
Many family forest owners are concerned that external forces will adversely affect their forests
and their ability to use their forests as they desire. The most commonly rated major concerns6
are keeping land intact for their heirs, insects and plant diseases, fire, trespassing, and property
taxes (Fig. 21, Tables US-25 and US-26). Other relatively common concerns are misuse of the
6

Includes owners who rated the specific issue as a great concern (rating = 1 or 2) on a seven point Likert
scale with 1 defined as great concern and 7 as no concern.

28

Minimal activity
Leave it as is - no activity
Harvest firewood
Harvest sawlogs or pulpwood
Transfer to heirs

Future Plans

No current plans
Buy more forest land
Collect nontimber forest products
Sell forest land
Convert forest to non-forest land
Convert non-forest to forest land
Owners

Subdivide and sell forest land

Area

Other
Unknown
0

10

20

30

40

50

Percent
Figure 22.—Future (next 5 years) plans of family forest owners in the United States, 2006. Error bars
represent 68 percent confidence intervals.

land (e.g., illegal dumping), damage from storms, air and water pollution, undesirable plants,
development of nearby lands, harvesting regulations, and lawsuits.
Future Plans
Most family forest owners plan few activities for their forest land in the next 5 years (Fig. 22,
Table US-27). Of those who do intend to actively do something with their land, harvesting
sawlogs or pulpwood and harvesting firewood are the most commonly planned activities. There
is also a sizable amount of land that is owned by people who plan to sell or transfer some or all
of their forest land in the next 5 years (55 million acres ± 3 percent; 14 percent of the family
7
forest owners who own 23 percent of the family forest land ).

7

These numbers are slightly lower than those computed by simply combining the “sell” and “transfer”
categories because the categories are not exclusive —some owners plan to do both.

29

40
Area

35

Owners

30

Percent

25
20
15
10
5
0
<35

35-44

45-54

55-64

65-74

75+

Owner Age (years)
Figure 23.—Age of family forest owners in the United States, 2006. Error bars represent 68 percent
confidence intervals.

Demographics
Demographic information was collected for the self-proclaimed, primary decisionmaker for
the forest land. In many circumstances, the forest land is jointly owned, but the primary
decisionmaker was asked to complete the questionnaire. This information is utilized to help
design effective communication tools, to help ensure public forestry programs comply with
anti-discrimination policies, and other uses.
Forty-nine percent of the family forest owners, who own 52 percent of the family forest land,
are retirees (Table US-28). Of those who are still working, the most common occupation
categories are professionals (e.g., engineers and accountants), officials and managers (e.g., CEOs
and administrators), and craft workers (e.g., carpenters and mechanics). An additional 5 percent
of the owners, who own 9 percent of the family forest land, reported their occupation as a
farmer. Classification of the owners’ occupations is based on the U.S. Office of Management
and Budget’s Standard Occupational Classification Manual (2000) using the U.S. Census
Bureau’s collapsing rules (U.S. Census Bureau 2000).
The high percentage of retirees is correlated with the advanced age of many of the family forest
owners. Fifteen percent of the owners, who own 20 percent of the family forest land, are 75
years or older (Fig. 23, Table US-29). An additional 19 percent of the owners, who own an
additional 24 percent of the family forest land, are between the ages of 65 and 74. Looking at
people in the general population who are 25 years or older, 10 percent of them are between 65
and 74 years of age and 9 percent are 75 years or older (Fig. 24A)
Compared to the general public (U.S. Census Bureau 2001a, 2001b), family forest owners’
education and income levels are relatively high (Fig. 24B and 24C). Thirty-one percent of
30

A
40
General population*

35

Family forest owners

Percent

30
25
20
15
10
5
0
25-34

35-44

45-54

55-64

65-74

75+

Age (years)

B
40

General population*

35

Family forest owners

Percent

30
25
20
15
10
5
0
12th grade High school
or lower
or
equivalent

Some
college

Associate's
degree

Bachelor's
degree

Graduate
degree

Highest Level of Education Attained

C

Percent

40
35

General population

30

Family forest owners

25
20
15
10
5
0
Less than
$25,000

$25,000 $49,999

$50,000 $99,999

$100,000 $199,000

$200,000 or
more

Annual Household Income

* The general population statistics include only people 25 years or older.
Data source for general population statistics: U.S. Census Bureau 2001a and 2001b.

Figure 24.—Comparison of (A) age, (B) education, and (C) annual household
income between family forest owners and the general population. Error bars
represent 68 percent confidence intervals.

the owners, who own 41 percent of the family forest land, have at least a bachelor’s degree
8
compared to 24 percent of the general population (Table US-30). Eighteen percent of the
family owners, who own 27 percent of the family forest land, have annual household incomes of
at least $100,000 compared to 12 percent of the general population (Table US-31).
8

Including only owners who are 25 years or older.

31

Demographically, family forest owners are relatively homogeneous. Most of the primary
decisionmakers are white males (Tables US-32 and US-33); 72 percent of the family forest
owners, who own 78 percent of the family forest land, are male and 95 percent of the family
forest owners, who own 96 percent of the family forest land, are white. About 16 percent of the
owners, who own 17 percent of the family forest land, have a physical disability (Table US-34).
Seven percent of the family forest owners, who own 8 percent of the family forest land, have a
vision or hearing impediment.

CONCLUSIONS
America’s family forest owners are diverse, dynamic, and numerous. There are 10.4 million of
them (± 3 percent) who collectively own 264 million acres of forest land (± 0.4 percent) or 35
percent of the forests in the United States. Collectively, they own a plurality of the forest land
and are thus pivotal to achieving broad-scale, sustainable forest management goals. Numerous
surveys and other research initiatives have focused on family forest owners (see review in
Hodgdon and Tyrrell 2003), but the NWOS is the only national-level survey of family forest
owners that is scientifically based and has been completed for multiple iterations (i.e., 1993 and
2006).
As shown in Figure 8 and the “Size of Forest Holdings Matter” sidebars, the size of forest
holdings is an important determinant, or at least correlate, with many of the attributes of
family forest owners. It is positively correlated with having a written forest management plan,
having received forest management advice, and conducting commercial timber harvests. If the
size of forest holdings continue to decrease, as many experts expect it to do (e.g., Sampson and
DeCoster 2000, Best and Wayburn 2001), the overall attitudes and behaviors of family forest
owners will continue to change.
Most family forest owners are interested in the amenities, such as beauty, scenery, and privacy,
that their forests provide. Given the predicted decrease in size of forest holdings and other
societal factors (e.g., increasing incomes) these amenities are likely to increase in importance.
This has important implications for how the land is viewed by the owners and subsequently
managed. Timber production is not a primary objective of most family forest owners,
but timber harvesting is a common activity. How can forestry professionals bring forest
management to the forefront of family forest owners’ minds and help ensure that owners are
meeting their needs and sound forest management is being conducted? A better understanding
of owners’ needs and concerns is a first step. The next step is to turn this knowledge into
actionable plans (e.g., Butler et al. 2007).
Family forest ownership patterns will continue to change as land passes from one generation to
the next, within families or otherwise. Twenty-three percent of the family forest land is owned
by people who intend to sell or transfer their land soon. This is related to the fact that 20
percent of the family forest land is owned by people who are 75 years or older. The magnitude
of changes in the attitudes and behaviors between the current and future owners will be a
function of, among other things, the background, objectives, and circumstances of the new
owners and the characteristics of their land. For example, will the new owners be more or less
likely to have rural backgrounds, will they be more or less likely to be absentee owners, will they

32

own smaller or larger parcels of forest land, will they be more or less interested in earning money
from their land and if they are, from what sources, timber or land sales? These and many other
unanswered questions will shape the future of America’s family forest owners and America’s
forest lands.
The NWOS findings have important implications for organizations that rely on, provide
services to, or otherwise interact with family forest owners. Increased understanding of family
forest owners will lead to better forest policies, more effective outreach campaigns, services and
programs better suited to meet owners’ needs, and a heightened awareness of the importance of
family forest owners. Through continued implementation of the NWOS and related research,
we hope to monitor trends and further refine our understanding of America’s family forest
owners.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I would like to thank the thousands of forest owners who graciously participated in this survey.
Without the hard work and foresight of my predecessor, Tom Birch, and former colleague,
Earl Leatherberry, the NWOS would not be what it is today. Mark Brown and John Winborne
provided critical assistance in data preparation and processing. My fellow FIA employees, from
the field crews who collected the names and addresses, to the people in the office who compiled
the lists and numbers, are the unsung backbone of the NWOS. The generous support of the
U.S. Forest Service, State and Private Forestry, Cooperative Forestry program has been essential
to the success of the NWOS. The guidance and support of the NWOS steering committee and
the community of people interested in private forest ownership issues have greatly improved
the NWOS. I am very grateful for the review comments provided by Mark Brown, Mark
Buccowich, Sally Campbell, Karl Dalla Rosa, Bill Hubbard, and others.

LITERATURE CITED
Azuma, D.L.; Hiserote, B.A.; Dunham, P.A. 2005. The western juniper resource of eastern
Oregon, 1999. Resour. Bull. PNW-249. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture,
Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. 18 p.
Bechtold, W.A.; Patterson, P.L. 2005. The enhanced Forest Inventory and Analysis program—
national sampling design and estimation procedures. Gen. Tech. Rep. SRS-80. Asheville,
NC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Southern Research Station. 85 p.
Best, C.; Wayburn, L.A. 2001. America’s private forests: status and stewardship. Washington,
DC: Island Press. 268 p.
Birch, T.W. 1996a. Private forest-land owners of the United States, 1994. Resour. Bull.
NE-134. Radnor, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern Forest
Experiment Station. 183 p.
Birch, T.W. 1996b. Private forest-land owners of the Northern United States, 1994. Resour.
Bull. NE-136. Radnor, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern
Forest Experiment Station. 293 p.

33

Birch, T.W. 1996c. Private forest-land owners of the Southern United States, 1994. Resour.
Bull. NE-138. Radnor, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern
Forest Experiment Station. 195 p.
Birch, T.W. 1996d. Private forest-land owners of the Western United States, 1994. Resour.
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States. Resour. Bull. WO-1. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest
Service. 64 p.
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.
Butler, B.J.; Tyrrell, M.; Feinberg, G.; et al. 2007. Understanding and reaching family forest
owners: lessons from social marketing research. Journal of Forestry. 105(7): 348-357.
Campbell, S.; van Hees, W.W.S.; Mead, B. 2004. Southeast Alaska forests: inventory
highlights. Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-609. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture,
Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. 20 p.
Campbell, S.; van Hees, W.W.S.; Mead, B. 2005. South-central Alaska forests: inventory
highlights. Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-652. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture,
Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. 28 p.
Crocker, S.J.; Moser, W.K.; Brand, G.J.; et al. 2006. Iowa’s forest resources in 2004. Resour.
Bull. NC-263. St. Paul, MN: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, North Central
Research Station. 34 p.
Dillman, D.A. 2001. Mail and internet surveys: the tailored design method. New York:
Wiley. 464 p.
Hodgdon, B.; Tyrrell, M. 2003. Literature review: an annotated bibliography on family
forest owners. GISF Research Paper 002. New Haven, CT: Yale University, School of
Forestry and Environmental Studies, Global Institute of Sustainable Forestry. 17 p.
Josephson, H.R.; McGuire, J.R. 1958. Ownership of forest land and timber. In: Timber
resources for America’s future. For. Res. Rep. No. 14. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of
Agriculture, Forest Service. 289-321.
Land Trust Alliance. 2006. 2005 National land trust census report. Washington, DC. 22 p.
http://www.lta.org/census/. (accessed 30 November 2007).

34

Powell, D.S.; Faulkner, J.L.; Darr, D.R.; Zhu, Z.; MacCleery, D.W. 1993. Forest resources of
the United States, 1992. Gen. Tech. Rep. RM-234. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of
Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station. 132 p.
Sampson, R.N.; DeCoster, L. 2000. Forest fragmentation: implications for sustainable
private forests. Journal of Forestry. 98(3): 4-8.
Smith, W.B.; Miles, P.D.; Hoppus, M.; et al. In press. Forest resources of the United States,
2007. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service.
Smith, W.B.; Miles, P.D.; Vissage, J.S.; et al. 2004. Forest resources of the United States,
2002. Gen. Tech. Rep. NC-241. St. Paul, MN: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest
Service, North Central Research Station. 137 p.
U.S. Census Bureau. 2000. Census 2000 special EEO tabulation: occupational crosswalk to
EEO occupational groups and EEO-1 job categories. Washington, DC: U.S. Department
of Commerce, Census Bureau. 16 p. http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/eeoindex/jobgroups.
pdf. (accessed 9 July 2007).
U.S. Census Bureau. 2001a. Census 2000 summary file 1 for the United States. Washington,
DC: U.S. Department of Commerce, Census Bureau. http://www.census.gov/main/www/
cen2000.html. (accessed 7 November 2007).
U.S. Census Bureau. 2001b. Census 2000 summary file 3 for the United States. Washington,
DC: U.S. Department of Commerce, Census Bureau. http://www.census.gov/main/www/
cen2000.html. (accessed 7 November 2007).
U.S. Office of Management and Budget, National Technical Information Service. 2000.
Standard occupational classification manual. Washington, DC: U.S. Office of
Management and Budget, National Technical Information Service. 257 p.
USDA Forest Service, Forest Inventory and Analysis. 2005. Forest Inventory and Analysis:
National core field guide. Volume I: field data collection procedures for phase 2 plots.
Version 3.0. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service. 203 p. http://
www.fia.fs.fed.us/library/field-guides-methods-proc/docs/2006/core_ver_3-0_10_2005.pdf.
(accessed 10 July 2007).
USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service. 2004. 2002 Census of Agriculture, United
States summary and State data, Volume 1. AC-02-A-51. Washington, DC: U.S.
Department of Agriculture, National Agricultural Statistics Service. 657 p. http://www.nass.
usda.gov/census/census02/volume1/USVolume104.pdf. (accessed 30 November 2007).

35

APPENDIX I: DATA AND METHODS
Full details of the design, implementation, estimation, and analysis of the NWOS are available
in Butler et al. (2005), which is included on the CD in the back of this publication. Presented
here is a synopsis of that publication and descriptions of how special circumstances were handled.
The NWOS is conducted by the U.S. Forest Service, FIA program to increase our
understanding of:
• Who owns the forests of the United States
• Why they own them
• How they use them
• What they intend to do with them
On an annual basis, the NWOS uses an area-based sampling frame to contact approximately
6,000 private forest owners from across the United States. First, a grid is established with the
cell size commensurate with the sampling intensity for the given state. Within each cell, a
point is randomly selected. Remote sensing and site visits are used to determine which points
are forested. The owner of record is collected from public tax records for all forested plots. The
methods prescribed by Dillman (2001) are used to contact the private owners and persuade
them to complete the self-administered mail questionnaires. Between 2002 and 2006, 15,440
family forest owners participated in the NWOS (Table A). The overall cooperation rate was
51.3 percent.
Forest land refers to land at least 1 acre in size and “at least 10 percent stocked by forest trees of
any size, including land that formerly had such tree cover and that will be naturally or artificially
regenerated” (Smith et al. 2004). Family forests are defined as forest land owned by families,
individuals, trusts, estates, family partnerships, and unincorporated groups of individuals. This
category is synonymous with the “individual” owner class used by the FIA forest inventory
(USDA For. Serv. 2005) and the 1993 NWOS (Birch 1996a). Nonindustrial private forests
(NIPF) are forests owned by private families, individuals, corporations, or other groups that
neither own nor operate a primary wood processing facility; family forests are a subset of
nonindustrial private forests. This is synonymous with the NIPF definition used by the FIA
forest inventory and Forest Resources of the United States, 2002 (Smith et al. 2004).
Forest land area by ownership group and associated variances were derived from the database
assembled for the Renewable Resources Planning Act Assessment report (i.e., Smith et al., in
press). These data come from the most recently completed state-level FIA forest surveys. Areas
were calculated by summing the area expansion factors that were calculated using the methods
described in Bechtold and Patterson (2005). Variances were calculated using (nonstratified)
simple random sampling algorithms adapted from Bechtold and Patterson (2005). To
avoid pseudo-replication, only plot center (condition number one) was used in the variance
calculations.
Estimates were made for each of the estimation units depicted in Figure 25. These sampling
units are a superset of the FIA forest survey units (USDA For. Serv. 2005). In general, forest
survey unit numbers do not match the NWOS estimation unit numbers. A minimum of
36

Figure 25.—Estimation units used to calculate National Woodland Owner Survey results. Estimation
units do not cross state boundaries.

25 responses from family forest owners were required for each sampling unit. When this
requirement was not met, adjacent survey units within a state were collapsed. State-level
estimates were made by summing the sub-state level estimates.
Area and owner estimates were made separately. Area estimates were made using simple random
sample estimators (Butler et al. 2005). To adjust for unequal inclusion probabilities, probability
proportional to size estimators were used to calculate owner estimates (Butler et al. 2005). The
unequal inclusion probabilities arise because we use an area-based sampling frame and therefore
owners with larger parcels have a higher probability of being included than owners with smaller
parcels.
Differences between sample estimates and true population values can arise due to sampling
error, coverage error, measurement error, and nonresponse error (Dillman 2001). Since we used
a random sample design, coverage errors are not an issue. Measurement errors are the result of
poor questions. To assure good wording, the survey instrument was pretested and a national
committee of experts reviewed it.
Tests were performed to identify potential nonresponse errors. Size of forest holdings is an
important variable and is integral for making estimates of number of owners (see Statistical
Estimation Procedures in Butler et al. 2005). Hence, this variable was the principal variable
used to test for nonresponse bias. Tests were conducted using ancillary data (e.g., size of parcels
37

from tax records) and by segregating data by various spatial units (to test for differences along
the urban-rural continuum). No statistically significant biases were detected.
Sampling errors are the result of not all members of a population being included in a survey. As
the number of participants approaches the number in the population, the sampling error will
approach zero. Sampling errors are reported for estimates in percentage terms. Sampling errors
should always be considered when looking at specific estimates. Estimates with sampling errors
greater than or equal to 50 percent should be used very cautiously. All estimates with sampling
errors greater than or equal to 25 percent should be used with caution. Estimates can be
improved (i.e., sampling errors reduced) by increasing the sampling intensity and/or increasing
the response rate.
No NWOS data were collected for interior Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada, western Oklahoma, or
western Texas between 2002 and 2006. In the national summary tables (i.e., Tables B to E),
forest area statistics were taken from the 2007 RPA data (Smith et al., in press) and ownership
data were taken from the 1993 ownership survey (Birch 1996c, 1996d). As noted in the
footnotes of the tables, interior Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada, western Oklahoma, and western Texas
are excluded from all other tables. The coastal area of Alaska that is included here is defined
as the southeast and south-central portions of Alaska as defined in Campbell et al. (2004) and
Campbell et al. (2005) and depicted in Figure 2.

38

INDEX OF TABLES
Table A.—Numbers of responses and cooperation rates for family forest owners who
participated in the U.S. Forest Services’ National Woodland Owner Survey between 2002 and
2006 by region, subregion, and state
Table B.—Area of forest land in the United States by ownership category, region, subregion,
and state, 2006
Table C.—Area and number of private forests in the United States by region, subregion, and
state, 2006
Table D.—Area and number of nonindustrial private forests in the United States by region,
subregion, and state, 2006
Table E.—Area and number of family forests in the United States by region, subregion, and
state, 2006

National, Regional, and State Tables
The NWOS results are summarized in separate sets of tables for the United States, regions, and
states (Fig. 2). These tables are based on data collected between 2002 and 2006. The U.S. tables
are included in the printed portion of this report (labeled A through E and US-1 through -34)
and all of the tables are included on the accompanying CD. The tables are numbered the same
with identifiers prior to the numbers used to identify the specific table set. The identifiers are
US for the national tables, NORTH, SOUTH, ROCKY, or PACIFIC for the regional tables,
and the two-letter state abbreviations for the state tables. The tables are:
Table US-1.—Number of responses and cooperation rate for family forest owners who
participated in the U.S. Forest Services’ National Woodland Owner Survey between 2002 and
2006 in the United States.
Table US-2.—Area of forest land in the United States by ownership category, 2006
Table US-3.—Area and number of private forests in the United States by size of forest
landholdings, 2006
Table US-4.—Area and number of nonindustrial private forests in the United States by size of
forest landholdings, 2006
Table US-5.—Area and number of family forests in the United States by size of forest
landholdings, 2006
Table US-6.—Area and number of family forests in the United States by percent of owner’s land
that is forested, 2006
Table US-7.—Area and number of family forests in the United States by number of forested
parcels, 2006
39

Table US-8.—Area and number of family forests in the United States by type and source of
forest land acquisition, 2006
Table US-9.—Area and number of family forests in the United States by ownership tenure,
2006
Table US-10.—Area and number of family forests in the United States by frequency and
recipient of forest land transfers, 2006
Table US-11.—Area and number of family forests in the United States by form of ownership,
2006
Table US-12.—Area and number of family forests in the United States that are associated with
owners’ farms, primary homes, and vacation homes, 2006
Table US-13.—Area and number of family forests in the United States by reason for owning
forest land, 2006. Numbers include landowners who ranked each objective as very important
(1) or important (2) on a seven-point Likert scale.
Table US-14.—Area and number of family forests in the United States by lease status, 2006
Table US-15.—Area and number of family forests in the United States by status of easements
that restrict land use conversions, 2006
Table US-16.—Area and number of family forests in the United States by knowledge of and
participation in sustainable forest certification programs, 2006
Table US-17.—Area and number of family forests in the United States by participation in costshare programs, 2006
Table US-18.—Area and number of family forests in the United States by primary forest
management decisionmaker, 2006
Table US-19.—Area and number of family forests in the United States by timber harvesting
activities and reasons, 2006
Table US-20.—Area and number of family forests in the United States by activities related to
nontimber forest products (NTFPs), 2006
Table US-21.—Area and number of family forests in the United States by management plan
status, 2006
Table US-22.—Area and number of family forests in the United States by recent (past 5 years)
forestry activity, 2006

40

Table US-23.—Area and number of family forests in the United States by advice received and
advice source, 2006
Table US-24.—Area and number of family forests in the United States by preferred methods to
receive forest management information, 2006. Numbers include landowners who ranked each
method as very useful (1) or useful (2) on a seven-point Likert scale.
Table US-25.—Area and number of family forests in the United States by landowners’
sociopolitical concerns, 2006. Numbers include landowners who ranked each issue as a very
important (1) or important (2) concern on a seven-point Likert scale.
Table US-26.—Area and number of family forests in the United States by landowners’ forest
health concerns, 2006. Numbers include landowners who ranked each issue as a very important
(1) or important (2) concern on a seven-point Likert scale.
Table US-27.—Area and number of family forests in the United States by landowners’ future
(next 5 years) plans for their forest land, 2006
Table US-28.—Area and number of family forests in the United States by primary occupation
of the primary decisionmaker, 2006
Table US-29.—Area and number of family forests in the United States by age of the primary
decisionmaker, 2006
Table US-30.—Area and number of family forests in the United States by highest level of
formal education of the primary decisionmaker, 2006
Table US-31.—Area and number of family forests in the United States by primary
decisionmaker’s annual household income, 2006
Table US-32.—Area and number of family forests in the United States by gender of the primary
decisionmaker, 2006
Table US-33.—Area and number of family forests in the United States by ethnicity and race of
the primary decisionmaker, 2006
Table US-34.—Area and number of family forests in the United States by disability of the
primary decisionmaker, 2006

41

Table A.--Numbers of responses and cooperation rates for family forest owners who participated in the
U.S. Forest Services' National Woodland Owner Survey between 2002 and 2006 by region, subregion,
and state
Region, subregion,
Surveys
Number of
Number of
Cooperation
and state
sent
undeliverables
responses
rate
Percent
North:
Northeast:
Connecticut

157

22

77

57.0

78

30

19

39.6

Maine

911

122

419

53.1

Maryland

210

36

78

44.8

Massachusetts

203

29

82

47.1

New Hampshire

254

52

119

58.9

Delaware

New Jersey

107

24

35

42.2

New York

1,313

261

424

40.3

Pennsylvania

2,878

169

1,205

44.5

Rhode Island

74

8

33

50.0

317

73

147

60.2

650

107

245

45.1

7,152

933

2,883

46.4

Vermont
West Virginia
Northeast total:
North Central:
Illinois

641

51

327

55.4

Indiana

533

57

270

56.7

Iowa

392

46

206

59.5

Michigan

3,683

414

2,028

62.0

Minnesota

1,421

268

743

64.4

Missouri

2,188

285

1,115

58.6

Ohio
Wisconsin
North Central total:
North total:

495

74

225

53.4

2,612

390

1,483

66.7

11,965

1,585

6,397

61.6

19,117

2,518

9,280

55.9

South:
Southeast:
Florida
Georgia

266

40

108

47.8

1,714

261

723

49.8

North Carolina

791

59

321

43.9

South Carolina

1,787

211

694

44.0

Virginia
Southeast total:

987

76

444

48.7

5,545

647

2,290

46.8

South Central:
Alabama

1,848

257

834

52.4

Arkansas

817

161

281

42.8

Kentucky

952

98

375

43.9

Louisiana

372

60

121

38.8

Mississippi

921

341

198

34.1

Oklahoma (east)
Tennessee
Texas (east)
South Central total:
South total:

42

263

79

65

35.3

1,585

206

519

37.6

923

66

386

45.0

7,681

1,268

2,779

43.3

13,226

1,915

5,069

44.8

Table A. (continued)
Region, subregion,
and state

Surveys
sent

Number of
undeliverables

Number of
responses

Cooperation
rate
Percent

Rocky Mountain:
Great Plains:
Kansas

366

46

172

53.8

Nebraska

190

23

85

50.9

North Dakota

117

14

41

39.8

South Dakota
Great Plains total:

79

11

33

48.5

752

94

331

50.3

42.2

Intermountain:
Arizona

90

26

27

212

95

65

55.6

94

58

18

50.0

193

82

49

44.1

1

0

0

0.0

94

45

20

40.8

146

28

64

54.2

Wyoming
Intermountain total:

115
945

25
359

42
285

46.7
48.6

Rocky Mountain total:

1,697

453

616

49.5

45

6

20

51.3

45

6

20

51.3

272

27

136

55.5

Colorado
Idaho
Montana
Nevada
New Mexico
Utah

Pacific Coast:
Alaska:
Alaska (coastal):
Alaska total:
Pacific Northwest:
Oregon
Washington
Pacific Northwest total:

268

33

130

55.3

540

60

266

55.4

496

77

189

45.1

0
496

77

189

45.1

Pacific Coast total:

1,081

143

475

50.6

United States total:

35,121

5,029

15,440

51.3

Pacific Southwest:
California
Hawaii
Pacific Southwest total:

43

Table B.--Area of forest land in the United States by ownership category, region, subregion, and state, 2006
Private
Region, subregion,
and state

All ownerships
Acres
SE a
Thousands Percent

Total
Acres
SE a
Thousands Percent

Family
Acres
SE a
Thousands Percent

Other Private
Acres
SE a
Thousands Percent

North:
Northeast:
Connecticut
Delaware
Maine

1,794

6.6

1,383

7.4

898

8.7

485

13.5

383

11.2

351

11.6

244

13.7

107

22.0

17,673

1.3

16,575

1.3

5,727

2.2

10,848

1.7

Maryland

2,566

4.2

1,957

4.8

1,462

5.4

495

10.1

Massachusetts

3,171

4.9

2,179

5.8

1,686

6.2

493

13.8

New Hampshire

4,850

3.4

3,646

3.8

2,358

4.3

1,288

7.3

New Jersey

2,132

4.6

1,322

5.7

805

7.3

517

9.3

New York

18,669

1.7

14,438

1.9

11,252

2.0

3,186

4.7

Pennsylvania

16,577

1.4

11,738

1.7

8,906

1.8

2,832

3.8

Rhode Island

356

10.1

303

10.8

204

12.5

99

20.7

4,618

2.6

3,864

2.7

3,109

2.8

755

7.8

12,007

1.5

10,418

1.6

7,174

1.8

3,244

3.1

84,796

0.7

68,175

0.7

43,825

0.9

24,349

1.3

Illinois

4,525

3.3

3,730

3.6

3,465

3.7

265

14.2

Indiana

4,656

3.0

3,888

3.2

3,471

3.4

417

10.8

Iowa

2,879

4.2

2,552

4.5

2,449

4.5

102

23.1

Michigan

19,545

1.0

12,117

1.2

8,956

1.4

3,161

2.5

Minnesota

16,391

1.1

7,114

1.8

5,390

2.0

1,724

3.7

Missouri

15,078

1.5

12,393

1.6

11,605

1.6

788

7.2

Vermont
West Virginia
Northeast total:
North Central:

Ohio

7,894

2.5

6,973

2.6

5,796

2.7

1,177

7.1

16,275

1.0

11,117

1.2

9,083

1.3

2,034

3.2

87,243

0.6

59,885

0.7

50,215

0.8

9,670

1.7

172,039

0.4

128,060

0.5

94,041

0.6

34,019

1.1

Florida

16,147

2.1

11,427

2.4

4,900

3.7

6,527

3.3

Georgia

24,784

1.1

22,440

1.1

14,338

1.3

8,102

2.0

North Carolina

18,447

1.7

15,497

1.9

11,194

2.1

4,303

4.0

Wisconsin
North Central total:
North total:
South:
Southeast:

South Carolina

12,746

1.8

11,189

1.8

7,320

2.1

3,869

3.5

15,766

1.1

13,000

1.2

9,992

1.3

3,008

2.9

87,889

0.7

73,553

0.7

47,744

0.8

25,809

1.4

Alabama

22,693

1.1

21,264

1.1

14,792

1.3

6,471

2.4

Arkansas

18,830

1.3

15,156

1.4

9,390

1.8

5,767

2.4

Virginia
Southeast total:
South Central:

Kentucky

11,970

1.5

10,647

1.6

9,103

1.7

1,543

4.8

Louisiana

14,222

1.7

12,512

1.8

5,815

2.5

6,697

2.5

Mississippi

19,622

1.3

17,320

1.3

12,146

1.4

5,174

2.8

Oklahoma

7,665

5.5

7,000

6.0

5,716

7.1

1,283

8.2

Tennessee

14,480

1.5

12,310

1.6

9,975

1.7

2,335

4.2

17,273

1.2

16,204

1.2

10,841

1.1

5,363

2.7

126,756

0.6

112,412

0.6

77,779

0.8

34,633

1.1

214,644

0.4

185,965

0.5

125,522

0.6

60,443

0.9

Texas
South Central total:
South total:

44

Table B. (continued)
Public
Region, subregion,
and state

Total
Acres
SE a
Thousands Percent

Federal
Acres
SE a
Thousands Percent

State
Acres
SE a
Thousands Percent

Local
Acres
SE a
Thousands Percent

North:
Northeast:
Connecticut
Delaware
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
New Hampshire
New Jersey

411

14.7

-

-

257

18.5

154

24.3

32

40.5

-

-

32

40.5

-

1,098

6.3

164

16.8

776

7.5

158

16.3

-

609

8.7

72

26.5

424

10.3

113

20.8

992

9.5

106

30.3

603

12.0

283

18.2

1,204

7.3

773

8.9

265

16.3

166

20.7

810

7.6

106

21.5

531

9.2

173

16.7

New York

4,231

3.8

142

22.8

3,630

4.0

459

12.6

Pennsylvania

4,839

2.8

603

8.4

3,812

3.1

424

10.1

Rhode Island

53

28.7

-

42

31.8

10

66.0

Vermont

-

754

7.8

369

10.9

313

12.2

72

26.2

West Virginia

1,589

5.0

1,233

5.6

278

12.4

77

23.5

Northeast total:

16,621

1.8

3,568

3.7

10,964

2.1

2,088

5.5

Illinois

795

7.9

368

11.1

204

16.0

223

15.6

Indiana

767

7.8

403

10.6

334

11.9

31

40.2

Iowa

327

13.0

104

22.9

163

18.4

60

30.3

Michigan

7,427

1.6

2,958

2.5

4,118

2.1

351

8.1

Minnesota

9,277

1.5

2,789

2.7

4,400

2.1

2,089

3.2

Missouri

2,686

3.7

1,838

4.4

784

7.1

63

25.9
16.8

North Central:

Ohio

921

8.1

276

14.5

423

11.8

222

5,157

1.9

1,576

3.5

1,075

4.4

2,506

2.7

27,357

0.9

10,312

1.6

11,501

1.4

5,545

2.1

43,978

0.9

13,880

1.5

22,465

1.3

7,633

2.1

Florida

4,720

4.1

2,068

6.0

2,221

6.0

431

14.3

Georgia

2,343

3.9

1,758

4.4

356

10.2

230

12.7

North Carolina

2,950

4.8

2,090

5.6

601

10.9

258

16.7

Wisconsin
North Central total:
North total:
South:
Southeast:

South Carolina

1,557

5.6

1,071

6.8

325

12.6

160

17.7

Virginia

2,766

3.0

2,250

3.2

302

9.5

213

11.4

14,336

2.0

9,237

2.3

3,806

4.2

1,293

6.9

Alabama

1,429

5.4

986

6.5

330

11.4

113

19.6

Arkansas

3,674

3.2

3,155

3.3

448

10.2

71

25.3

Kentucky

1,324

5.3

1,059

5.9

212

13.9

53

28.4

Southeast total:
South Central:

Louisiana

1,709

5.3

975

6.8

538

9.8

197

16.1

Mississippi

2,303

4.2

1,834

4.6

236

13.3

233

13.6

Oklahoma

665

11.6

499

13.4

139

25.8

27

59.0

Tennessee

2,171

4.3

1,473

5.2

599

8.5

99

21.3

Texas

1,069

5.6

905

6.2

109

16.1

54

21.9

14,344

1.7

10,886

1.9

2,611

4.3

847

7.4

28,679

1.3

20,124

1.5

6,417

3.0

2,139

5.1

South Central total:
South total:

45

Table B. (continued)
Private
Region, subregion,
and state

All ownerships
Acres
SE a
Thousands Percent

Total
Acres
SE a
Thousands Percent

Family
Acres
SE a
Thousands Percent

Other Private
Acres
SE a
Thousands Percent

Rocky Mountain:
Great Plains:
Kansas

2,106

5.0

1,994

5.1

1,906

Nebraska

1,245

6.8

724

9.0

1,092

7.2

510

10.7

1,682

5.9

492

5,757

3.1

Arizona

18,671

Colorado

22,612

Idaho

21,430

North Dakota
South Dakota
Great Plains total:

5.2

88

25.2

1,054

7.4

38

39.3

424

11.7

86

26.1

10.9

352

12.9

140

20.5

4,088

3.7

3,736

3.8

352

12.8

2.2

7,381

3.5

1,371

8.4

6,010

3.9

2.1

5,360

5.0

4,193

5.6

1,168

10.9

3.1

2,553

10.2

1,186

15.0

1,367

14.0

Intermountain:

Montana

25,014

2.6

7,026

5.1

3,628

7.1

3,398

7.4

Nevada

11,089

4.7

212

36.8

93

55.7

120

49.1

New Mexico

16,682

1.9

6,331

3.1

6,331

3.1

-

Utah

-

17,962

2.0

3,013

5.5

1,941

6.8

1,071

9.2

Wyoming
Intermountain total:

11,445
144,905

2.1
0.9

1,942
33,819

5.4
1.9

1,655
20,399

5.8
2.4

287
13,420

14.3
3.2

Rocky Mountain total:

150,661

0.9

37,906

1.8

24,135

2.1

13,772

3.1

126,869

1.2

35,875

2.5

4,058

7.3

31,818

2.7

126,869

1.2

35,875

2.5

4,058

7.3

31,818

2.7

Pacific Coast:
Alaska:
Alaska
Alaska total:
Pacific Northwest:
Oregon

30,169

1.5

11,059

2.6

4,257

4.2

6,802

3.3

22,279

1.9

9,806

3.0

2,717

5.8

7,088

3.6

52,449

1.2

20,864

2.0

6,974

3.4

13,890

2.4

32,817

1.4

13,202

2.4

7,897

3.1

5,305

3.8

1,748
34,565

9.0
1.4

1,155
14,357

10.9
2.4

1,031
8,928

11.5
3.0

124
5,429

35.5
3.8

Pacific Coast total:

213,883

0.8

71,097

1.5

19,960

2.3

51,137

1.8

United States total:

751,228

0.3

423,029

0.4

263,658

0.4

159,371

0.8

Washington
Pacific Northwest total:
Pacific Southwest:
California
Hawaii
Pacific Southwest total:

46

Table B. (continued)
Public
Region, subregion,
and state

Total
Acres
SE a
Thousands Percent

Federal
Acres
SE a
Thousands Percent

State
Acres
SE a
Thousands Percent

Local
Acres
SE a
Thousands Percent

Rocky Mountain:
Great Plains:
Kansas

112

22.3

73

27.6

20

53.5

19

53.9

Nebraska

153

19.6

81

26.8

52

33.4

19

55.3

North Dakota

214

16.5

157

19.3

46

35.5

11

72.5

South Dakota

1,190

7.0

1,138

7.1

52

33.6

-

Great Plains total:

1,669

5.9

1,449

6.3

170

18.5

49

Arizona

11,291

2.8

9,658

3.0

1,609

7.7

24

63.7

Colorado

17,252

2.3

16,590

2.3

603

15.2

58

50.0

34.1

Intermountain:

Idaho

18,877

3.2

17,342

3.3

1,535

13.1

-

Montana

17,987

2.9

17,175

3.0

799

15.3

13

-

Nevada

10,876

4.7

10,824

4.8

52

74.2

-

-

New Mexico

10,351

2.4

9,522

2.5

825

9.1

3

152.3

Utah

120.0

14,950

2.2

13,425

2.3

1,514

7.7

11

90.8

Wyoming
Intermountain total:

9,503
111,086

2.3
1.1

9,084
103,620

2.3
1.1

419
7,357

11.8
4.4

109

34.8

Rocky Mountain total:

112,755

1.0

105,070

1.1

7,527

4.3

159

26.2

90,994

1.4

63,423

1.7

27,469

2.7

101

46.1

90,994

1.4

63,423

1.7

27,469

2.7

101

46.1

Pacific Coast:
Alaska:
Alaska
Alaska total:
Pacific Northwest:
Oregon

19,111

1.8

17,960

1.8

969

8.7

181

20.6

Washington

12,474

2.5

9,536

2.8

2,580

5.9

358

16.1

31,584

1.5

27,496

1.5

3,549

4.9

539

12.7

19,614

1.8

18,409

1.8

831

10.1

375

15.3

593
20,208

15.7
1.8

12
18,421

114.3
1.8

573
1,404

16.0
8.8

8
383

141.2
15.3

Pacific Coast total:

142,786

1.0

109,340

1.1

32,422

2.4

1,023

9.9

United States total:

328,199

0.6

248,413

0.7

68,831

1.3

10,955

2.1

Pacific Northwest total:
Pacific Southwest:
California
Hawaii
Pacific Southwest total:

a

SE = sampling error

Note: Data may not add to totals due to rounding

47

Table C.--Area and number of private forests in the United States by region, subregion, and
state, 2006
Area
Owners
SE a
SE a
Region, subregion, and state
Acres
Number
Thousands
Thousands
Percent
Percent
North:
Northeast:
Connecticut
Delaware
Maine

1,383

7.4

108

21.7

351

11.6

55

57.1

16,575

1.3

252

13.1

Maryland

1,957

4.8

157

24.5

Massachusetts

2,179

5.8

293

18.8

New Hampshire

3,646

3.8

128

23.8

New Jersey

1,322

5.7

122

28.1
12.9

New York

14,438

1.9

687

Pennsylvania

11,738

1.7

497

6.8

Rhode Island

303

10.8

38

29.8

Vermont

3,864

2.7

88

19.2

10,418

1.6

251

22.4

68,175

0.7

2,677

5.5

Illinois

3,730

3.6

184

13.3

Indiana

3,888

3.2

225

10.8

Iowa

2,552

4.5

150

17.6

12,117

1.2

498

9.1
8.5

West Virginia
Northeast total:
North Central:

Michigan
Minnesota
Missouri
Ohio
Wisconsin
North Central total:
North total:

7,114

1.8

202

12,393

1.6

359

7.2

6,973

2.6

345

10.0

11,117

1.2

362

6.8

59,885

0.7

2,325

3.5

128,060

0.5

5,002

3.4

South:
Southeast:
Florida

11,427

2.4

509

22.6

Georgia

22,440

1.1

524

10.9

North Carolina

15,497

1.9

525

12.1

South Carolina

11,189

1.8

301

13.9

13,000

1.2

410

13.3

73,553

0.7

2,269

7.0

Virginia
Southeast total:
South Central:
Alabama

21,264

1.1

412

11.5

Arkansas

15,156

1.4

346

22.7

Kentucky

10,647

1.6

473

14.5

Louisiana

12,512

1.8

131

17.9

Mississippi

17,320

1.3

370

48.6

Oklahoma

7,000

2.8

71

13.9

Tennessee
Texas
South Central total:
South total:

48

12,310

1.6

534

11.6

16,204

1.2

354

12.0

112,412

0.6

2,690

9.8

185,965

0.4

4,960

5.4

Table C. (continued)
Area
Region, subregion, and state

Acres
Thousands

Owners
SE a
Percent

Number
Thousands

SE a
Percent

Rocky Mountain:
Great Plains:
Kansas

1,994

5.1

103

18.9

Nebraska

1,092

7.2

57

33.1

510

10.7

24

48.6

North Dakota
South Dakota
Great Plains total:

492

10.9

12

37.4

4,088

3.7

196

15.2

Arizona

7,381

3.5

45

40.5

Colorado

5,360

5.0

186

39.1

Idaho

2,553

10.2

34

54.6

Montana

7,026

5.1

40

22.9

212

36.8

15

64.1

New Mexico

6,331

3.1

81

81.7

Utah

3,013

5.5

66

59.5

Wyoming
Intermountain total:

1,942
33,819

5.4
1.8

24
491

47.5
22.5

Rocky Mountain total:

37,906

1.7

687

16.7

35,875

2.5

82

89.3

35,875

2.5

82

89.3

11,059

2.6

149

16.8

9,806

3.0

215

18.9

20,864

2.0

364

13.1

13,202

2.4

202

19.1

1,155
14,357

0.2
2.2

25
227

53.5
18.0

Pacific Coast total:

71,097

1.5

673

14.3

United States total:

423,029

0.4

11,322

3.1

Intermountain:

Nevada

Pacific Coast:
Alaska:
Alaska
Alaska total:
Pacific Northwest:
Oregon
Washington
Pacific Northwest total:
Pacific Southwest:
California
Hawaii
Pacific Southwest total:

a

SE = sampling error

Note: Data may not add to totals due to rounding

49

Table D.--Area and number of nonindustrial private forests in the United States by region,
subregion, and state, 2006
Area
Owners
Region, subregion,
SE a
SE a
and state
Acres
Number
Thousands

Percent

Thousands

Percent

North:
Northeast:
Connecticut
Delaware

1,383

7.4

108

21.7

325

12.0

55

57.1

12,082

1.5

252

13.1

Maryland

1,869

4.9

157

24.5

Massachusetts

2,179

5.8

293

18.8

New Hampshire

3,451

3.8

128

23.8

New Jersey

1,322

5.7

122

28.1
12.9

Maine

New York

13,710

1.9

686

Pennsylvania

11,505

1.7

497

6.8

Rhode Island

303

10.8

38

29.8

3,612

2.8

88

19.2

10,418

1.6

251

22.4

62,158

0.8

2,677

5.5

Illinois

3,725

3.6

184

13.3

Indiana

3,870

3.2

225

10.8

Vermont
West Virginia
Northeast total:
North Central:

Iowa
Michigan
Minnesota
Missouri

2,552

4.5

150

17.6

10,988

1.3

498

9.1

6,467

1.9

202

8.5

12,234

1.6

359

7.2

6,780

2.6

345

10.0

10,438

1.3

362

6.8

57,055

0.7

2,324

3.5

119,213

0.5

5,001

3.4

Florida

9,652

2.7

509

22.6

Georgia

18,172

1.2

524

10.9

North Carolina

13,969

1.9

525

12.1

South Carolina

9,712

1.9

301

13.9

12,256

1.2

410

13.3

63,762

0.8

2,269

7.0

Alabama

17,765

1.2

412

11.5

Arkansas

10,983

1.7

345

22.7

Kentucky

10,398

1.6

473

14.5

Louisiana

8,250

2.2

131

17.9

Mississippi

15,340

1.4

370

48.6

Ohio
Wisconsin
North Central total:
North total:
South:
Southeast:

Virginia
Southeast total:
South Central:

Oklahoma

5,952

2.9

71

43.1

Tennessee

11,206

1.6

534

11.6

12,996

1.4

354

41.2

92,891

0.6

2,690

10.9

156,652

0.5

4,945

6.1

Texas
South Central total:
South total:

50

Table D. (continued)
Region, subregion,
and state

Area
Acres
Thousands

Owners
SE

a

Percent

Number
Thousands

SE a
Percent

Rocky Mountain:
Great Plains:
Kansas

1,994

Nebraska

5.1

103

18.9
33.1

1,092

7.2

57

North Dakota

510

10.7

24

48.6

South Dakota
Great Plains total:

492

10.9

12

37.4

4,088

3.7

196

15.2

Arizona

7,381

3.5

45

40.5

Colorado

5,360

5.0

186

39.1

Idaho

1,427

13.7

34

54.6

Montana

5,430

5.8

40

22.9

212

36.8

15

64.1

6,331

3.1

81

81.7

Intermountain:

Nevada
New Mexico
Utah

3,013

5.5

66

59.5

Wyoming
Intermountain total:

1,942

5.4

24

47.5

31,097

1.9

491

22.5

Rocky Mountain total:

35,184

1.8

687

16.7

35,875

2.5

82

89.3

35,875

2.5

82

89.3

Oregon

6,970

3.3

149

16.9

Washington

6,510

3.8

215

18.9

13,480

2.5

364

13.1

10,101

2.7

202

19.1

1,155
11,256

15.0
2.9

25
227

53.5
18.0

Pacific Coast total:

60,612

1.7

673

14.3

United States total:

371,661

0.4

11,307

3.3

Pacific Coast:
Alaska:
Alaska
Alaska total:
Pacific Northwest:

Pacific Northwest total:
Pacific Southwest:
California
Hawaii
Pacific Southwest total:

a

SE = sampling error

Note: Data may not add to totals due to rounding

51

Table E.--Area and number of family forests in the United States by region, subregion, and
state, 2006
Area
Owners
Region, subregion,
SE a
SE a
Acres
Number
and state
Thousands

Percent

Thousands

Percent

North:
Northeast:
Connecticut

898

8.7

101

22.8

Delaware

244

13.7

28

54.3

Maine

5,727

2.2

233

13.8

Maryland

1,462

5.4

156

24.7

Massachusetts

1,686

6.2

290

19.0

New Hampshire

2,358

4.3

124

24.6

805

7.3

120

28.5

11,252

2.0

614

10.8

8,906

1.8

469

6.9
30.9

New Jersey
New York
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
Vermont
West Virginia
Northeast total:

204

12.5

37

3,109

2.8

87

19.3

7,174

1.8

243

23.1

43,825

0.9

2,502

5.3

North Central:
Illinois

3,465

3.7

177

13.6

Indiana

3,471

3.4

218

11.1

Iowa

2,449

4.5

147

17.9

Michigan

8,956

1.4

438

4.9

Minnesota

5,390

2.0

194

8.6

11,605

1.6

339

7.3

5,796

2.7

336

10.2

Missouri
Ohio
Wisconsin
North Central total:
North total:

9,083

1.3

352

6.9

50,215

0.8

2,201

3.2

94,041

0.6

4,703

3.2

South:
Southeast:
Florida

4,900

3.7

404

20.9

Georgia

14,338

1.3

504

11.1

North Carolina

11,194

2.1

469

11.8

South Carolina

7,320

2.1

262

12.6

9,992

1.3

402

13.6

47,744

0.8

2,042

6.5

Alabama

14,792

1.3

399

11.8

Arkansas

9,390

1.8

343

22.9

Kentucky

9,103

1.7

467

14.7

Louisiana

5,815

2.5

105

17.0

Mississippi

12,146

1.4

163

14.0

Oklahoma

5,716

2.7

52

13.5

Tennessee

9,975

1.7

531

11.7

10,841

1.2

344

11.9

77,779

0.7

2,403

6.2

125,522

0.5

4,445

4.2

Virginia
Southeast total:
South Central:

Texas
South Central total:
South total:

52

Table E. (continued)
Region, subregion,
and state

Area
Acres
Thousands

Owners
SE a
Percent

Number
Thousands

SE a
Percent

Rocky Mountain:
Great Plains:
Kansas

1,906

5.2

101

19.2

Nebraska

1,054

7.4

54

34.2

North Dakota

424

11.7

24

48.7

South Dakota
Great Plains total:

352

12.9

12

39.0

3,736

3.8

191

15.5

Arizona

1,371

8.4

44

41.3

Colorado

4,193

5.6

182

39.8

Idaho

1,186

15.0

34

55.2

Montana

3,628

7.1

38

23.8

93

55.6

11

64.1

Intermountain:

Nevada
New Mexico

6,331

3.1

81

81.7

Utah

1,941

6.8

64

62.1

Wyoming
Intermountain total:

1,655
20,399

5.8
2.4

24
478

47.9
23.1

Rocky Mountain total:

24,135

2.1

669

17.1

Pacific Coast:
Alaska:
Alaska
Alaska total:

4,058

7.3

16

119.3

4,058

7.3

16

119.3

Pacific Northwest:
Oregon

4,257

4.2

141

17.4

2,717

5.8

213

19.2

6,974

3.4

354

13.5

7,897

3.1

197

19.6

1,031
8,928

11.5
3.0

14
210

53.5
18.7

Pacific Coast total:

19,960

2.3

581

11.1

United States total:

263,658

0.4

10,398

2.6

Washington
Pacific Northwest total:
Pacific Southwest:
California
Hawaii
Pacific Southwest total:

a

SE = sampling error

53

Family Forest Owners of the United States*, 2006
As with all estimates derived from surveys, sampling errors should be considered when interpreting the
results. Estimates with sampling errors of 25 percent or more should be used cautiously. Estimates with
sampling errors of 50 percent or more should be used very cautiously.
Citation: 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.
* Excluding interior Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada, western Oklahoma, and western Texas.

Table US-1.--Number of responses and cooperation rate for family forest
owners who participated in the U.S. Forest Services' National Woodland
Owner Survey between 2002 and 2006 in the United States*
Surveys
sent

Number of
undeliverables

Number of
responses

Cooperation
rate
Percent

35,121

5,029

15,440

51.3

* Excluding interior Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada, western Oklahoma, and western
Texas.
Table US-2.--Area of forest land in the United States*
by ownership category, 2006
Ownership
category

Area
Acres

SE a

Thousands

Percent

Private
Family

251,974

0.4

Other private

127,943

0.8

Total private

379,917

1.1

185,977

0.8

Public
Federal
State

41,964

1.7

Local

10,850

2.0

Total public
Total

238,791

0.7

618,708

0.4

* Excluding interior Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada, western
Oklahoma, and western Texas.
a
SE = sampling error

54

Table US-3.--Area and number of private forests in the United States* by size of
forest landholdings, 2006
Size of forest
landholdings
Acres

Area

Owners

Acres

SE a

Thousands

SE a

Percent

Number
Thousands

1-9

20,661

7.2

6,821

5.2

10-19

18,475

6.3

1,496

3.7

20-49

42,591

3.4

1,465

2.5

50-99

44,020

3.2

683

2.4

100-199

43,770

3.5

372

4.8

200-499

47,300

3.6

185

3.8

500-999

25,578

5.9

45

5.4

1,000-4,999

42,229

5.0

28

6.3

5,000-9,999

12,677

15.2

2

13.6

10,000+
Total

Percent

82,617

2.6

9

47.9

379,917

0.4

11,108

3.2

* Excluding interior Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada, western Oklahoma, and western Texas.
SE = sampling error

a

Table US-4.--Area and number of nonindustrial private forests in the United
States* by size of forest landholdings, 2006
Size of forest
landholdings
Acres

Area

Owners

Acres

SE a

Thousands

SE a

Percent

Number
Thousands

1-9

20,661

7.2

6,821

5.2

10-19

18,475

6.3

1,496

3.7

20-49

42,591

3.4

1,465

2.5

50-99

44,020

3.2

683

2.4

100-199

43,770

3.5

372

4.8

200-499

47,300

3.6

185

3.8

500-999

25,578

5.9

45

5.4

1,000-4,999

42,229

5.0

28

6.3

5,000-9,999

12,677

15.2

2

13.6

10,000+
Total

Percent

31,249

6.6

8

54.9

328,549

0.4

11,107

3.2

* Excluding interior Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada, western Oklahoma, and western Texas.
a
SE = sampling error

55

Table US-5.--Area and number of family forests in the United States* by size of
forest landholdings, 2006
Size of forest
landholdings
Acres

Area

Owners

Acres

SE a

Thousands

SE a

Percent

Number
Thousands

1-9

19,158

6.4

6,221

4.4

10-19

17,691

6.5

1,430

3.7

20-49

40,894

3.4

1,402

2.5

50-99

41,562

3.2

644

2.3

100-199

38,946

3.5

318

2.6

200-499

39,926

3.7

158

4.2

500-999

18,795

7.0

32

5.3

1,000-4,999

25,127

5.8

18

8.8

5,000-9,999

4,217

19.8

1

11.6

5,659

18.3

<1

21.0

251,974

0.4

10,223

2.7

10,000+
Total

Percent

* Excluding interior Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada, western Oklahoma, and western Texas.
a
SE = sampling error
Table US-6.--Area and number of family forests in the United States* by percent of
owner's land that is forested, 2006
Percent
forested

Area

Owners

Acres

SE a

Thousands

SE a

Percent

Number
Thousands

<25

30,435

4.7

2,657

7.2

25-49

39,291

4.1

1,392

7.2

50-74

51,909

3.3

2,402

7.4

Percent

75-99

74,217

2.5

1,536

4.7

100
No answer

46,154

3.8

1,889

8.0

9,968

11.0

348

15.8

* Excluding interior Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada, western Oklahoma, and western Texas.
a
SE = sampling error
Table US-7.--Area and number of family forests in the United States* by number of
forested parcels, 2006
Forested
parcels

Area

Owners

Acres

SE a

Thousands

SE a

Percent

Number
Thousands

1

77,319

2.1

4,159

2-9

92,429

1.9

2,088

6.4

10-99

13,805

9.0

89

12.2

100+
No answer

1,701

30.4

4

22.0

66,721

2.5

3,882

4.7

Percent
4.2

* Excluding interior Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada, western Oklahoma, and western Texas.
a
SE = sampling error

56

Table US-8.--Area and number of family forests in the United States* by type and source of forest
land acquisition, 2006
Area
Acquisition

Owners

Acres

SE a

Thousands

SE a

Percent

Number
Thousands

Percent

Type b
Purchase

191,380

1.0

8,259

3.2

Inheritance

88,818

2.2

1,994

6.1

Other

14,723

8.9

511

15.1

5,400

19.5

183

17.2

Family

123,005

1.6

3,333

4.9

Individual

141,961

1.4

5,594

3.8

25,589

5.8

1,411

10.7

7,577

14.6

371

14.8

No answer
Source b

Other
No answer

* Excluding interior Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada, western Oklahoma, and western Texas.
SE = sampling error

a
b

Categories are not exclusive.

Table US-9.--Area and number of family forests in the United States* by ownership tenure, 2006
Area
Land tenure (years)

Owners

Acres

SE a

Thousands

SE a

Percent

Number
Thousands

Percent

<10

30,567

4.4

1,891

6.9

10-24

67,704

2.5

3,330

5.2

25-49

87,157

2.2

2,998

5.9

50+
No answer

21,832

6.4

480

11.9

44,714

3.9

1,524

7.5

* Excluding interior Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada, western Oklahoma, and western Texas.
SE = sampling error

a

57

Table US-10.--Area and number of family forests in the United States* by frequency and recipient
of forest land transfers, 2006
Area
Land transfer

Owners

Acres

SE a

Thousands

SE a

Percent

Number
Thousands

Percent
3.3

Frequency
0 (never)

163,757

1.2

7,525

1

38,914

4.0

1,683

8.6

2-5

28,806

5.0

572

10.3

6+

11,259

11.5

79

30.1

9,237

14.0

364

13.9

Family

23,466

4.9

620

12.6

Individual

45,890

2.8

1,302

8.5

Other

21,623

4.9

540

18.6

7,066

11.9

239

16.7

Yes

39,921

3.1

1,079

9.8

No

203,214

0.7

8,821

3.1

8,840

8.3

323

13.4

No answer
Recipient b

No answer
Transferred in last 5 years

No answer

* Excluding interior Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada, western Oklahoma, and western Texas.
a
SE = sampling error
b

Categories are not exclusive.

Table US-11.--Area and number of family forests in the United States* by form of ownership, 2006
Area

Owners

Acres

SE b

Thousands

Percent

Number
Thousands

207,400

0.9

9,286

3.3

Family partnership

40,506

4.2

631

12.9

Trust

22,974

6.6

367

11.3

7,354

13.8

167

33.0

3,945

23.8

232

28.3

Form of ownership

a

Individual or joint

Other
No answer

* Excluding interior Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada, western Oklahoma, and western Texas.
Categories are not exclusive.

a
b

58

SE = sampling error

SE b
Percent

Table US-12.--Area and number of family forests in the United States* that are associated with
owners' farms, primary homes, and vacation homes, 2006
Area

Owners

Acres

SE b

Thousands

Percent

Number
Thousands

Yes

100,030

1.7

2,389

5.3

No

143,767

1.2

7,521

3.3

8,177

12.7

313

14.4

Yes

139,160

1.3

7,054

3.4

No

95,379

1.8

2,598

5.5

No answer

17,435

7.5

572

10.2

Yes

48,766

3.2

1,078

7.5

No

176,246

1.0

8,145

3.1

26,961

5.3

1,000

8.1

Associated with a

SE b
Percent

Owner's farm

No answer
Owner's home (primary residence)

Owner's vacation home or cabin

No answer

* Excluding interior Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada, western Oklahoma, and western Texas.
a
Categories are not exclusive.
b

SE = sampling error

Table US-13.--Area and number of family forests in the United States* by reason for owning
forest land, 2006. Numbers include landowners who ranked each objective as very important
(1) or important (2) on a seven-point Likert scale.
Area
Reason a

Owners

Acres

SE b

Thousands
160,601

SE b

Percent
1.1

Number
Thousands
7,159

Percent
3.4

130,403

1.4

5,489

3.7

117,868

1.5

3,852

5.0

128,868

1.6

6,649

4.0

Part of farm or ranch

102,265

1.9

2,865

6.0

Privacy
To pass land on to children or
other heirs
To cultivate/collect nontimber
forest products
For production of firewood or
biofuel

135,474

1.3

6,362

3.4

150,918

1.2

4,960

3.8

25,212

5.2

753

8.4

37,667

3.8

1,274

6.6

78,634

2.0

1,023

5.7

109,928

1.6

2,682

4.9

84,983

2.0

2,899

5.2

2,967

26.7

127

22.2

To enjoy beauty or scenery
To protect nature and biologic
diversity
For land investment
Part of home or vacation home

For production of sawlogs, pulpwood or other timber products
Hunting or fishing
For recreation other than
hunting or fishing
No answer

* Excluding interior Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada, western Oklahoma, and western Texas.
Categories are not exclusive.

a
b

SE = sampling error

59

Table US-14.--Area and number of family forests in the United States* by lease status, 2006
Area

Owners

Acres

SE a

Yes

Thousands
55,429

No

Leased

No answer
Use b

SE a

Percent
3.0

Number
Thousands
515

Percent
8.3

185,359

0.9

9,229

2.9

11,186

10.6

479

13.6

Hunting
Recreation (other than
hunting)

17,344

7.7

60

11.4

7,822

14.6

48

18.3

Graze/pasture livestock

17,349

7.8

184

16.7

Timber production

7,570

14.7

56

17.7

Cultivate/collect nontimber
forest products

4,807

19.5

33

16.1

1,017

53.4

5

27.5

24,588

5.2

221

12.3
10.9

Other
No answer
Leased within past 5 years
Yes

41,039

3.8

278

No

194,048

0.9

9,392

2.9

597

78.4

6

46.4

16,290

8.0

548

12.1

Uncertain
No answer

* Excluding interior Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada, western Oklahoma, and western Texas.
SE = sampling error

a
b

Categories are not exclusive.

Table US-15.--Area and number of family forests in the United States* by status of easements
that restrict land use conversions**, 2006
Area
Easement
Yes
No
No answer
Future easement b
Yes
No

Owners

Acres

SE a

Thousands

Percent

Number
Thousands

SE a
Percent

8,629

11.6

171

227,809

0.6

9,389

14.1
2.9

15,536

8.0

663

10.1

3,079

25.8

65

26.9
4.1

108,450

1.6

5,147

Maybe

36,383

3.9

1,146

7.0

Uncertain

30,276

4.4

1,144

7.1

No answer

49,621

3.3

1,887

7.1

* Excluding interior Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada, western Oklahoma, and western Texas.
** Despite our intention of quantifying conservation easements, many respondents included rights-ofway and other easements and their answers should be interpreted accordingly.
a
SE = sampling error
b

60

Includes only owners who currently do not have an easement.

Table US-16.--Area and number of family forests in the United States* by knowledge of and
participation in sustainable forest certification programs, 2006
Area
Green certification

Owners

Acres

SE a

Thousands

Percent

Number
Thousands

SE a
Percent

Has heard of
Yes

56,909

2.7

1,208

7.5

No

182,657

0.9

8,497

3.0

12,408

9.5

519

11.2

10,490

9.6

82

12.8

43,169

3.4

991

6.9

3,250

26.7

136

43.2

Yes

1,209

48.5

14

30.9

No

17,524

6.8

573

10.4

Maybe

No answer
Land currently enrolled b
Yes
No
No answer
Enroll land in future c

12,402

8.2

196

13.7

Uncertain

4,351

22.2

92

19.9

No answer

7,682

13.4

116

10.7

* Excluding interior Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada, western Oklahoma, and western Texas.
SE = sampling error

a
b

Includes only owners who have heard of green certification.

c

Includes only owners who have heard of green certification and who currently do not have land
green certified.
Table US-17.--Area and number of family forests in the United States* by participation in
cost-share programs, 2006
Area
Cost-share program

Owners

Acres

SE a

Thousands

Percent

Yes

48,909

No

Number
Thousands

SE a
Percent

3.2

528

188,631

0.9

9,043

2.9

14,434

8.4

652

11.3

Yes

24,839

5.5

218

14.0

No

210,390

0.7

9,347

2.8

Uncertain

1,282

49.3

28

55.6

No answer

15,463

8.2

631

11.4

No answer

8.7

Participated in past 5 years

* Excluding interior Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada, western Oklahoma, and western Texas.
SE = sampling error

a

61

Table US-18.--Area and number of family forests in the United States* by primary
forest management decisionmaker, 2006
Primary
decisionmaker a
Owner

Area

Owners

Acres

SE b

Thousands

Percent

Number
Thousands

SE b
Percent

214,897

0.7

9,236

2.9

Family member

27,426

5.3

614

13.6

Forester

26,600

4.6

192

9.0

Other
No answer

14,994

7.9

185

10.4

5,519

18.7

209

20.7

* Excluding interior Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada, western Oklahoma, and western Texas.
a
Categories are not exclusive.
b

62

SE = sampling error

Table US-19.--Area and number of family forests in the United States* by timber harvesting activities and
reasons, 2006
Area

Owners

Acres

SE a

Thousands
Yes
No

SE a

Percent

Number
Thousands

Percent

170,717

1.0

4,543

3.3

76,687

2.2

5,414

4.3

4,570

17.9

266

20.3
3.9

Trees harvested or removed

No answer
Products harvested b

118,744

1.5

1,891

Veneer logs

40,778

3.5

515

5.9

Pulpwood

74,407

2.0

1,048

6.8

Firewood

67,374

2.4

1,951

4.7

Posts or poles

29,091

5.4

335

8.8

4,034

21.9

158

20.6

17,044

7.4

1,059

8.9

Yes

75,538

2.2

1,118

5.8

No

85,347

2.0

3,075

4.3

Uncertain

3,010

27.7

88

23.9

No answer

6,822

13.9

262

14.8

Sawlogs

Other
No answer
Received professional consultation c

Recent harvest/removal (within 5 years)
Yes

94,271

1.9

2,043

5.0

No

145,407

1.2

7,665

3.4

2,203

32.5

90

25.5

10,093

10.6

425

12.2

Yes

135,801

1.3

2,454

4.0

No

99,129

1.7

6,710

3.7

17,044

7.4

1,059

8.9

Part of management plan

61,341

2.8

685

7.4

Trees were mature

95,225

2.0

1,571

4.5

Clear land

19,187

7.7

733

10.1

Needed money

40,774

3.9

741

7.5

Wood for personal use

41,163

4.0

1,294

5.7

Price was right

32,816

4.5

439

9.7

Improve hunting

18,317

7.4

188

9.7

Improve recreation
Remove trees damaged by natural
catastrophes

11,137

10.8

308

11.6

64,020

2.9

1,745

6.3

Improve quality of remaining trees

83,122

2.2

1,708

5.8

7,875

16.1

313

15.7

10,782

9.8

569

11.3

Uncertain
No answer
Commerical harvest d

No answer
Reason for harvest c

Other
No answer

* Excluding interior Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada, western Oklahoma, and western Texas.
SE = sampling error

a
b

Categories are not exclusive.

c

Includes only owners who have harvested.

d

A commercial harvest is defined as the harvesting of sawlogs, veneer logs, or pulpwood.

63

Table US-20.--Area and number of family forests in the United States* by activities related to nontimber
forest products (NTFPs), 2006
Area

Owners

Acres

SE a

Thousands

Percent

Number
Thousands

SE a
Percent

NTFPs collected or harvested
Yes

54,989

3.2

1,701

6.1

No

180,572

1.0

7,856

3.4

16,413

7.8

667

14.9

No answer
Type of NTFPs collected/harvested b,c
Edibles

30,522

4.9

1,005

6.8

Medicinals

6,865

15.3

215

20.1

Decoratives

21,254

6.8

728

10.3

2,044

41.6

27

24.4

644

66.6

34

44.2

No answer
Use b,c

12,329

7.6

285

15.3

For sale

10,273

12.4

163

20.5

For personal use

36,259

4.3

1,319

6.9

No answer

12,919

7.5

297

14.9

Yes

37,457

4.3

1,239

7.3

No

186,532

1.0

8,041

3.3

747

64.3

18

28.1

27,237

4.8

925

11.7

Cultural
Other

Recent (within past 5 years)

Uncertain
No answer

* Excluding interior Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada, western Oklahoma, and western Texas.
a
SE = sampling error

64

b

Categories are not exclusive.

c

Includes only owners who have collected nontimber forest products.

Table US-21.--Area and number of family forests in the United States* by management plan
status, 2006
Area
Owners
SE a
Acres
SE a
Management plan
Number
Thousands

Percent

Thousands

Percent

Yes

42,367

3.5

364

7.2

No

197,059

0.8

9,393

2.9

Do not remember

4,561

19.5

131

18.2

No answer

7,986

13.1

336

17.4

* Excluding interior Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada, western Oklahoma, and western Texas.
SE = sampling error

a
b

Categories are not exclusive.

Table US-22.--Area and number of family forests in the United States* by recent (past 5 years)
forestry activity, 2006
Area
Owners
Acres
SE b
SE b
Activity a
Number
Thousands

Percent

Thousands

81,810

2.2

1,125

5.0

37,457

4.3

1,239

7.3

Site preparation

40,677

3.5

822

9.1

Tree planting

65,701

2.3

1,920

5.5

Fire hazard reduction

50,938

3.1

1,294

8.1

Application of chemicals

38,917

3.6

928

9.1

Road/trail maintenance

90,058

1.9

1,685

6.5

Wildlife habitat improvement

51,518

3.0

857

7.7

Posting land

107,189

1.9

2,366

5.7

Private recreation

135,309

1.5

3,329

4.3

Public recreation

36,855

4.4

711

12.6

None of the above

41,343

3.5

3,181

5.6

Timber harvest
Collection of NTFPs

c

Percent

* Excluding interior Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada, western Oklahoma, and western Texas.
a
Categories are not exclusive.
b

SE = sampling error

c

NTFPs = nontimber forest products

65

Table US-23.--Area and number of family forests in the United States* by advice received and
advice source, 2006
Area
Owners
SE a
Acres
SE a
Number
Thousands

Percent

Thousands

Percent

1.9

1,436

5.7

Advice received
Yes

91,468

No

153,493

1.1

8,504

3.1

7,013

14.8

284

18.5

No answer
Advice source b
State forestry agency

45,308

3.4

548

7.0

Extension

16,687

7.5

238

16.4

Other state agency

4,267

21.7

53

16.8

Federal agency

22,982

6.1

263

11.3

Private consultant

42,300

3.4

354

8.0

Forest industry

13,060

8.0

75

9.4

Logger

17,667

6.8

220

12.9

Another landowner

14.1

16,987

6.8

269

Other

2,763

28.7

114

29.7

No answer

9,381

11.7

351

16.0

* Excluding interior Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada, western Oklahoma, and western Texas.
SE = sampling error

a
b

66

Categories are not exclusive.

Table US-24.--Area and number of family forests in the United States* by preferred methods to receive forest
management information, 2006. Numbers include landowners who ranked each method as very useful (1) or
useful (2) on a seven-point Likert scale.
Area
Method

a

Publications, books, or pamphlets

Owners

Acres

SE b

Thousands
107,594

SE b

Percent
1.8

Number
Thousands
3,822

Percent
4.5
5.2

Newsletters, magazines, or newspapers

91,275

2.1

3,210

Internet/web
Conferences, workshops, or video
conferences

50,146

3.4

2,402

6.4

39,102

4.3

975

10.1

Video tapes for home viewing

55,621

3.1

2,207

6.5

Television or radio programs

43,339

3.7

1,848

7.1

Visiting other woodlands or field trips
Talking with a forester or other natural
resource professional

50,236

3.2

1,372

7.4

116,243

1.7

3,246

5.0

Talking with other woodland owners

66,698

2.6

1,633

6.5

Talking with a logging contractor

35,169

4.6

813

10.1

Membership in a land owner organization

33,812

4.8

739

8.8

No answer

13,489

8.7

713

11.0

* Excluding interior Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada, western Oklahoma, and western Texas.
Categories are not exclusive.

a
b

SE = sampling error

67

Table US-25.--Area and number of family forests in the United States* by landowners'
sociopolitical concerns, 2006. Numbers include landowners who ranked each issue as a very
important (1) or important (2) concern on a seven-point Likert scale.
Area
Concern a
Dealing with an endangered
species
High property taxes

Owners

Acres

SE b

Thousands
66,269

Percent
2.8

Number
Thousands
2,307

SE b
Percent
6.8

128,970

1.5

4,978

4.2

140,890

1.4

4,622

4.1

Lawsuits

73,169

2.6

2,286

6.1

Regulations that restrict
harvesting
Development of nearby lands

75,693

2.5

2,237

7.6

82,092

2.3

3,785

4.8

Damage or noise from
motorized vehicles
Trespassing or poaching

65,686

2.8

3,112

5.3

130,388

1.5

4,560

4.2

66,876

2.6

2,512

6.0

118,651

1.7

4,608

4.3

9,043

11.4

521

15.5

Keeping land intact for heirs

Timber theft
Misuse of forest land, such as
vandalism or dumping
No anwer

* Excluding interior Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada, western Oklahoma, and western Texas.
Categories are not exclusive.

a
b

SE = sampling error

Table US-26.--Area and number of family forests in the United States* by landowners' forest
health concerns, 2006. Numbers include landowners who ranked each issue as a very
important (1) or important (2) concern on a seven-point Likert scale.
Area
Concern a

Owners

Acres

SE b

Thousands

Percent

Percent
4.7

Air or water pollution

88,191

2.0

4,349

Undesirable plants

84,141

2.2

3,243

5.0

Domestic animals

22,529

6.2

1,026

10.7

Wild animals

37,491

4.0

1,614

6.4

Fire

132,164

1.5

4,916

4.5

Insects or plant diseases

140,848

1.4

4,945

4.1

Lack of new trees

48,274

3.5

2,373

6.6

Wind or ice storms

89,918

2.0

3,740

5.3

No answer

10,187

10.4

526

12.2

* Excluding interior Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada, western Oklahoma, and western Texas.
Categories are not exclusive.

a
b

68

SE b

Number
Thousands

SE = sampling error

Table US-27.--Area and number of family forests in the United States* by landowners' future (next 5 years)
plans for their forest land, 2006
Area
Future plans a
Leave it as is - no activity

Owners

Acres

SE b

Thousands
73,187

SE b

Percent
2.3

Number
Thousands
4,303

Percent
4.4
4.6

Minimal activity to maintain forest land

97,189

2.0

3,352

Harvest firewood

66,358

2.4

1,978

4.3

Harvest sawlogs or pulpwood

63,034

2.5

716

6.7

Collect nontimber forest products

19,465

6.8

569

9.5

Sell some or all of their forest land

18,420

6.9

550

14.4

Give some or all of their forest land to heirs

41,588

3.8

903

6.4

5,775

17.3

118

21.4

Subdivide some or all of their forest land and
sell subdivisions
Buy more forest land
Convert some or all of their forest land to
another use
Convert another land use to forest land

31,859

4.4

699

10.1

8,914

12.0

253

15.7
17.7

7,492

12.8

157

No current plans

37,781

4.3

1,949

8.0

Unknown

13,574

9.1

651

14.1

Other

10,002

11.8

289

14.6

6,196

14.3

276

16.2

No answer

* Excluding interior Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada, western Oklahoma, and western Texas.
Categories are not exclusive.

a
b

SE = sampling error

69

Table US-28.--Area and number of family forests in the United States* by primary occupation
of the primary decisionmaker, 2006
Area
Owners
SE a
Acres
SE a
Number
Occupation
Thousands

Percent

Thousands

Percent

Farmer

21,965

7.3

445

23.2

Official or manager

23,314

6.5

906

15.6

Professional

25,875

6.1

1,079

11.0

841

49.9

92

43.7

Sales worker

7,203

13.5

299

18.0

Administrative support

3,515

21.5

243

23.8

Technician

Craft worker

10,662

9.9

716

13.5

Operative

7,544

12.6

443

13.8

Laborer or helper

3,388

23.7

101

22.8

Service worker

3,176

22.1

277

22.6

Homemaker
Other b

2,809

25.4

124

28.1
39.5

Retiree
No answer

646

56.1

47

120,002

1.9

4,672

5.4

21,035

7.3

778

12.0

* Excluding interior Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada, western Oklahoma, and western Texas.
SE = sampling error

a
b

Includes students, disabled, and unemployed individuals.

Table US-29.--Area and number of family forests in the United States* by age of the primary
decisionmaker, 2006
Area
Owners
SE a
Acres
SE a
Number
Age (years)
Thousands
<35

Percent

Thousands

25.7

229

29.3

35-44

15,035

7.5

894

9.0

45-54

46,503

3.2

2,179

5.7

55-64

68,065

2.7

3,169

6.5

65-74

56,792

3.2

1,867

6.4

75+

46,866

3.8

1,487

6.8

No answer

15,939

8.4

398

12.1

* Excluding interior Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada, western Oklahoma, and western Texas.
SE = sampling error

a

70

Percent

2,774

Table US-30.--Area and number of family forests in the United States* by highest level of
formal education of the primary decisionmaker, 2006
Area
Owners
Highest level of
SE a
Acres
SE a
Number
education
Percent

Thousands

Percent

12th grade or lower

Thousands
18,871

6.7

1,046

9.3

High school or equivalent

55,902

2.6

2,624

5.5

Some college

43,183

3.5

1,882

6.1

Associate's degree

20,888

6.5

1,156

9.9

Bachelor's degree

53,437

3.0

1,550

7.1

Graduate degree

43,165

3.6

1,438

7.1

No answer

16,528

7.5

525

12.3

* Excluding interior Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada, western Oklahoma, and western Texas.
a
SE = sampling error
Table US-31.--Area and number of family forests in the United States* by primary
decisionmaker's annual household income, 2006
Area
Owners
Acres
SE a
SE a
Income
Number
Thousands
Percent
Thousands
Percent
Less than $25,000

26,017

5.6

1,474

7.8

$25,000 - $49,999

54,847

3.1

2,573

6.3

$50,000 - $99,999

69,883

2.6

3,134

5.0

$100,000 - $199,000

34,480

4.6

1,278

10.3

$200,000 or more

21,183

6.0

301

13.8

No answer

45,565

3.8

1,464

7.8

* Excluding interior Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada, western Oklahoma, and western Texas.
a
SE = sampling error
Table US-32.--Area and number of family forests in the United States* by gender of the
primary decisionmaker, 2006
Area
Owners
SE a
Acres
SE a
Gender
Number
Thousands

Percent

Thousands

183,603

0.9

7,013

3.3

Female
Both b

33,757

4.3

1,640

6.2

19,352

6.6

1,072

9.6

No answer

15,262

8.2

498

13.1

Male

Percent

* Excluding interior Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada, western Oklahoma, and western Texas.
SE = sampling error

a
b

Respondent indicated joint decisionmakers, at least one male and one female.

71

Table US-33.--Area and number of family forests in the United States* by ethnicity and race of the
primary decisionmaker, 2006
Area
Owners
SE a
Acres
SE a
Ethnicity and race
Number
Thousands

Percent

Thousands

Percent

Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino
Non-Hispanic/Latino
No answer

3,333

32.2

110

220,343

0.8

9,116

33.6
3.1

28,298

5.5

998

9.2

1,203

48.3

56

42.3

429

78.7

17

46.6

1,731

29.9

163

22.9

209

102.2

32

60.0

224,885

0.7

9,116

3.1

4,494

19.8

217

17.6

19,024

7.6

623

12.6

Race
People reporting a single race
American Indian or Alaska
Native
Asian
Black or African American
Native Hawaiian or other
Pacific Islander
White
Two or more races
No answer

* Excluding interior Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada, western Oklahoma, and western Texas.
a
SE = sampling error
Table US-34.--Area and number of family forests in the United States* by disability of the primary
decisionmaker, 2006
Area
Owners
Acres
SE a
SE a
Disability
Number
Thousands

Percent

Thousands

Percent

Vision or hearing
Yes

19,536

6.4

712

9.5

No

212,366

0.7

8,945

3.2

20,072

6.9

566

10.7

Yes

40,340

4.0

1,584

7.2

No

191,444

0.9

8,074

3.3

20,190

6.9

566

10.3

No answer
Physical (e.g., mobility)

No answer

* Excluding interior Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada, western Oklahoma, and western Texas.
SE = sampling error

a

72

The survey instruments and other material are available at:
http://www.fia.fs.fed.us/nwos/

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 alternate 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, DC 20250-9410, or call (800)795-3272
(voice) or (202)720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

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