Forest Parcelization and Forest Fragmentation in the U.S., Northeast, and Vermont

1. Forest Parcelization and Forest Fragmentation in the U.S., Northeast, and Vermont Brett J. Butler U.S. Forest Service

2. 2 Outline What? So what? Why? When? Where? What next?

3. 3 What?

4. 4 Size of Forest Landholdings (Owners)

5. 5 Size of Forest Landholdings (Area)

6. 6 So what?

7. 7 Ownership Objectives These figures are for the northeast Landowner Dynamics Tenure and age Objectives Economic Economies of scale Markets Social Public attitudes Population pressuresThese figures are for the northeast Landowner Dynamics Tenure and age Objectives Economic Economies of scale Markets Social Public attitudes Population pressures

8. 8 Timber Harvesting Commercial = sawtimber and pulpwood harvesters Probability = % of land owned by families and individuals with Commercial = sawtimber and pulpwood harvesters Probability = % of land owned by families and individuals with

9. 9 Plans and Advice Commercial = sawtimber and pulpwood harvesters These figures are on a percent area basis, they would be substantially lower on a percent owner basisCommercial = sawtimber and pulpwood harvesters These figures are on a percent area basis, they would be substantially lower on a percent owner basis

10. 10 Future Intentions Privacy, aesthetics, and home track together Hunting and aesthetics paralleled each other, but hunting was 20 to 40 percentage points lowerPrivacy, aesthetics, and home track together Hunting and aesthetics paralleled each other, but hunting was 20 to 40 percentage points lower

11. 11 Why? Population pressures More people Changing expectations Landowner turnover Changing ownership objectives Timber industry

12. 12 National Woodland Owner Survey Objectives: Who are the landowners? Why do they own land? How do they use it? How do they intend to use it? Random sample of private forest-land owners in the U.S. Self-administered mail questionnaire Annual design History: 1953, 1978, 1993, and 2002-2004 Sample size: CA=124 responses 2002-2004(185 contacts in 2006) Social compliment to FIA�s biological inventoryHistory: 1953, 1978, 1993, and 2002-2004 Sample size: CA=124 responses 2002-2004(185 contacts in 2006) Social compliment to FIA�s biological inventory

13. 13 Forest Ownership

14. 14 Land Use Change in New England (Acres per Year) 1997 - 20051997 - 2005

15. 15 Forest Ownership Use map and pie chart Pie chart should sync with map categoriesUse map and pie chart Pie chart should sync with map categories

16. 16 Ownership Change in New England(Acres per Year) 1997 � 2005 Other corp: Plum Creek (REIT), Hancock (TIMO), Prentiss Carlisle (TIMO?), Seven Islands (family), Webber (family), TNC (NGO)1997 � 2005 Other corp: Plum Creek (REIT), Hancock (TIMO), Prentiss Carlisle (TIMO?), Seven Islands (family), Webber (family), TNC (NGO)

17. 17 Who are the family forest owners? Age: 61 years Occupation: Farmers, engineers, housewives, lawyers� 47% retired Education: 70% at least some college Income: $60,000/year In 2002, there were an estimated 275,000 family forest owners in New England who collectively owned 16 million forested acres How does this compare to historic numbers? Discuss difference between owner versus land based statistics 20% have an advanced degree Other occupations: business owners, truck drivers, teachers, doctors, foresters, accountantsIn 2002, there were an estimated 275,000 family forest owners in New England who collectively owned 16 million forested acres How does this compare to historic numbers? Discuss difference between owner versus land based statistics 20% have an advanced degree Other occupations: business owners, truck drivers, teachers, doctors, foresters, accountants

18. 18 Ownership Objectives Part of farm Part of home Part of vacation homePart of farm Part of home Part of vacation home

19. 19 Forest Management Timber harvesting: 73% Sawlogs: 56% Pulpwood: 35% Firewood: 48% Non-timber forest products: 24% Other activities: Roads (39%), fire hazard reduction (14%), wildlife (12%), tree planting (12%) Harvesters tend to own larger parcels of land (77 vs. 31 acres) 47% in the last 5 years Management plans (130 vs. 44 acres) Most leases for various camps and youth groupsHarvesters tend to own larger parcels of land (77 vs. 31 acres) 47% in the last 5 years Management plans (130 vs. 44 acres) Most leases for various camps and youth groups

20. 20 Forest Management (cont.) Manager Owner: 75% Family: 9% Forester: 16% Management plans: 33% Advice: 41% Cost share programs: 7% Easements: 7% Green certification: 4% Other managers included loggers (4%) and business partners (3%) 46% of harvesters consulted forester for last harvest Easements include utility right of ways. 6% restrict land use changes.Other managers included loggers (4%) and business partners (3%) 46% of harvesters consulted forester for last harvest Easements include utility right of ways. 6% restrict land use changes.

21. 21 Landowners� Concerns Property taxes Family legacy Air or water pollution Dumping Insects or plant diseases Acres Percent Number Percent Count >50 Property taxes 7858 55.43954 383 46.70732 264 40-49 Family legacy 6821 48.12332 302 36.82927 230 Air or water pollution 6035 42.57796 352 42.92683 204 Dumping 5799 40.91294 256 31.21951 199 30-39 Insects or plant diseases 5664 39.96049 336 40.97561 195 Fire 5417 38.21786 306 37.31707 192 Trespassing 4785 33.759 237 28.90244 163 Land development 4459 31.45901 276 33.65854 151 Storms 4446 31.36729 306 37.31707 150 Noise pollution 4401 31.04981 282 34.39024 148 Harvesting regulations 4265 30.09031 99 12.07317 146 <30 Endangered species 3297 23.2609 234 28.53659 111 Lawsuits 3274 23.09863 110 13.41463 112 Undesirable plants 3075 21.69465 230 28.04878 104 Timber theft 2990 21.09496 120 14.63415 103 Regeneration 1685 11.88796 121 14.7561 57 Wild animals 1425 10.05362 102 12.43902 47 Domestic animals 461 3.252434 6 0.731707 16 Acres Percent Number Percent Count >50 Property taxes 7858 55.43954 383 46.70732 264 40-49 Family legacy 6821 48.12332 302 36.82927 230 Air or water pollution 6035 42.57796 352 42.92683 204 Dumping 5799 40.91294 256 31.21951 199 30-39 Insects or plant diseases 5664 39.96049 336 40.97561 195 Fire 5417 38.21786 306 37.31707 192 Trespassing 4785 33.759 237 28.90244 163 Land development 4459 31.45901 276 33.65854 151 Storms 4446 31.36729 306 37.31707 150 Noise pollution 4401 31.04981 282 34.39024 148 Harvesting regulations 4265 30.09031 99 12.07317 146 <30 Endangered species 3297 23.2609 234 28.53659 111 Lawsuits 3274 23.09863 110 13.41463 112 Undesirable plants 3075 21.69465 230 28.04878 104 Timber theft 2990 21.09496 120 14.63415 103 Regeneration 1685 11.88796 121 14.7561 57 Wild animals 1425 10.05362 102 12.43902 47 Domestic animals 461 3.252434 6 0.731707 16

22. 22 Future Intentions Harvest firewood Minimal activity Harvest sawlogs or pulpwood Transfer all or part of land to heirs No activity In the next 5 years� Acres Percent Number Percent Count Harvest firewood 5,985 42.2 248 30.2 224 Minimal activity 5,849 41.3 349 42.6 216 Harvest sawlogs or pulpwood 4,156 29.3 47 5.7 156 Transfer all or part of land to heirs 2,225 15.7 59 7.2 85 No activity 2,083 14.7 226 27.6 81 Buy more forestland 1,844 13.0 90 11.0 71 Collect NTFPs b 1,839 13.0 57 7.0 60 Sell all or part of land 1,555 11.0 38 4.6 63 No current plans 1,013 7.1 71 8.7 42 Land use conversion (forest to other) 645 4.6 33 4.0 26 Subdivide all or part of land 542 3.8 32 3.9 22 Land use conversion (other to forest) 155 1.1 1 0.1 6 No answer 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 In the next 5 years� Acres Percent Number Percent Count Harvest firewood 5,985 42.2 248 30.2 224 Minimal activity 5,849 41.3 349 42.6 216 Harvest sawlogs or pulpwood 4,156 29.3 47 5.7 156 Transfer all or part of land to heirs 2,225 15.7 59 7.2 85 No activity 2,083 14.7 226 27.6 81 Buy more forestland 1,844 13.0 90 11.0 71 Collect NTFPs b 1,839 13.0 57 7.0 60 Sell all or part of land 1,555 11.0 38 4.6 63 No current plans 1,013 7.1 71 8.7 42 Land use conversion (forest to other) 645 4.6 33 4.0 26 Subdivide all or part of land 542 3.8 32 3.9 22 Land use conversion (other to forest) 155 1.1 1 0.1 6 No answer 0 0.0 0 0.0 0

23. 23 Area of Private Forestland in Vermont

24. 24 Family Forest Landholdings in Vermont by Area

25. 25 Family Forest Landholdings in Vermont by Number of Owners

26. 26 Forest Parcel Size

27. 27 What next?

28. 28 Questions? Brett Butler U.S. Forest ServiceNorthern Research StationForest Inventory & AnalysisFamily Forest Research Center Holdsworth Hall, Amherst, MA 413.545.1387 bbutler01@fs.fed.us www.fs.fed.us/woodlandowners