Southern Forest Resource Assessment led by the USDA Forest Service's Southern Region and Southern Research Station in collaboration with the USEPA, US Fish & Wildlife, TVA, and state forestry agencies of the Southern United States

Broad Category: Social/Economic Factors

SOCIO-4: What motivates private forest landowners to manage their forestland and how are their management objectives formed?

1. Look at how NIPF landowners might respond to different incentives and disincentives regarding the management and use of their land.
2. Examine the differences in motivation/management between landowner groups (public, large industry, versus nonindustrial private owners and minority versus non-minority landowners).
3. Address the role of education and access to information on the management behavior of private landowners.
4. Describe NIPF landowner perspectives on the use of their forests for recreation and other uses.

Question Manager: Gerald Wicker, USDA Forest Service, Southern Region (replacing David Hoge January 2001)

Overview:

The Southern Region of the United States contains over 200 million acres of forestland.  Approximately 70 percent of this forestland is owned or controlled by an estimated five million private individuals.  Any assessment and response to concerns pertaining to the southern forest resource must recognize this fact and nuances and motivations of private individuals adequately considered and evaluated.

Method of Analysis:

The team will compile historical data pertaining to the question.    Many papers and studies on the subject have been prepared in the last ten years.  Some were presented during a national symposium on nonindustrial private forests held in Washington, DC, in February 1996.  Significant research and program evaluations will be reviewed and appropriate observations and findings confirmed by question collaborators.

Data Sources:

The assessment findings will be based on cited studies and other relevant literature, state and federal agency reports and program evaluations, regional and local agency and organizational reviews, landowner association and private consultant input, and representative landowner confirmation.

Products:

To adequately address the question it will be necessary to determine:

• who the landowners are,
• what are their reasons for owning land,
• where is their present level of awareness about forestry and forest management opportunities,
• why are some landowners not properly managing their forest resources, and
• how to remove the real or perceived obstacles to proper forest management.

Collaborators and Sources:

Several organizations and individuals have been contacted and have expressed interest in participating in the assessment process and in providing input to the question regarding the motivations of private forest landowners.  Those contacted to date are as follows:

• Glenn Glover, Cooperative Extension Service, Auburn, Alabama
• Glenn Hughes, Cooperative Extension Service, Ellisville, Mississippi
• Rick Hamilton, Cooperative Extension Service, Raleigh, North Carolina
• Richard Harper, Cooperative Extension Service, Clemson, South Carolina
• Rick Hatten, Georgia Forestry Commission, Macon, Georgia
• Kurt Atkinson, Oklahoma Forestry Services, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
• Jeff Baumann, South Carolina Forestry Commission, Columbia, South Carolina
• Stephen Newton, Forest Landowners Association, Atlanta, Georgia
• John Alter, Landowner, Bascom, Florida
• James Malone, Landowner, Chunchula, Alabama
• Don Girton, Kentucky Woodland Owners Association, Alexandria, Kentucky
• Katherine Eddins, Chattowah Open Land Trust, Alpharetta, Georgia
• Bryan Burhans, National Wild Turkey Federation, Edgefield, South Carolina
• Robert Simpson, American Forest Foundation, Washington, DC
• Rick Cantrell, American Forest and Paper Association, Clemson, South Carolina
• Robert Moulton, FS Southern Research Station, RTP, North Carolina

Links to Other Questions:

Given the size of private land ownership and the variety of individual landowner’s level of awareness, interest, objectives, and ability to engage resource management practices, the motivation of landowners has direct links to the broad assessment categories concerning Forest Extent, Condition and Health and Landscapes and Terrestrial Ecosystems.  Findings related to the effect of Timber Markets and Forest Management may show a correlation between the long-term benefits and the short-terms impacts of forest management on the health of Watersheds and Riparian Ecosystems.

Unresolved Issues:

Perhaps the two biggest unresolved issues regarding the motivations of private landowners and forest resource concerns are the appropriate roles of government and the private sector and the proper mix of information, education, technical assistance, incentives, and regulations.

Cited and Other Relevant Literature:

Numerous studies on the subject question abound.  Some of the works presently being reviewed include the following:

• Ellefson, P. 1998. Forested Landscapes in Prospective. National Research Council.
• Thompson, E. 1998. Sharing the Responsibility: What Agricultural Landowners Think About Property Rights, Government Regulation and the Environment. American Farmland Trust.
• Sampson, R.N., and L. Decoster. 1997. Public Programs for Private Forestry, A Reader on Programs and Options. American Forests.
• Baughman, M.J., N. Goodman, and D. Thayer. 1996. Symposium on Nonindustrial Forests: Learning from the Past, Prospects for the Future Conference Proceedings.
• Bentley, W., and W. Langbein. 1996. Final Report Seventh American Forest Congress.
• Birch, T. 1994. The Forest Landowners of the United States.
• Royer, J., and F. Convery. 1980. Nonindustrial Private Forests: Data and Information Needs Conference Proceedings.
• Towell, W. 1980. Proceedings of the National Private Non-industrial Forestry Conference. Forest Service General Technical Report WO-22.

 modified: 26-MAR-2001