the national woodland owner survey yesterday, today, and tomorrow brett j. butler u.s. forest...

The National Woodland Owner SurveyYesterday, Today, and Tomorrow

Brett J. ButlerU.S. Forest Service

SAF National FIA User Group Meeting AgendaMarch 3, 2009 New Orleans, La

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Who are these people?What do these people have in common?

The Forefathers of Forest Conservation in the United States

T. Roosevelt J. Muir J. WeeksG. Pinchot

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According to 1,000 likely voters: who owns most of the forests in the U.S.?

A. U.S. Government

B. Forest industry

C. Family forest owners

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NWOS: Yesterday

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NWOS: Today

• 2002-2006

• Family Forest Owners of the U.S., 2006

• NWOS Table Maker

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Family Forest Owners of the US, 2006

• Family forest owners rule!

• Size matters• Beauty, legacy, and

privacy• To manage or not to

manage?• They are a bunch of

old guys

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Step 1: Step 2: Step 3:

Step 4: Step 5:

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Who is this?

A. Woodsy Owl

B. Smokey Bear

C. Connie Fir

D. Santa Claus

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NWOS: Tomorrow

• 2010– Trends

– Sample size

– State-specific

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Partnerships

• State and Private Forestry

• Family Forest Research Center

• Sustaining Family Forests Initiative

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Projects

• P2 inventory data– ownership variables

– TIMOs and REITs

• Ownership trends• Social availability• Geospatial products

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180

1953 1978 1993 2006

Year

Are

a (1

,000

,000

ha)

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

Ow

ners

(1,

000,

000)

Area Owners

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Questions?

Brett Butler

U.S. Forest Service, Amherst, MA

bbutler01@fs.fed.us; 413.545.1387

www.fia.fs.fed.us/nwos