1. ForestParcelization and Forest Fragmentation in the U.S., Northeast, and Vermont Brett J. Butler U.S. Forest Service Forest Fragmentation and Parcelization Roundtable September 18, 2006 – Vermont Technical College

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

3. 3 What?

4. 4 Size of Forest Landholdings (Owners) Parcel Size (Acres) Owners (Millions)

5. 5 Size of Forest Landholdings (Area) Parcel Size (Acres) Acres (Millions)

6. 6 So what?

7. 7 Ownership Objectives Parcel Size (Acres) Relative Importance Aesthetics Timber Home Land Investment

8. 8 Timber Harvesting Parcel Size (Acres) Harvesting Probability Average

9. 9 Plans and Advice Parcel Size (Acres) Probability Average (Plans) Advice Sought Average (Advice) Plans

10. 10 Future Intentions Parcel Size (Acres) Probability Harvest Firewood Transfer Land Buy Land Harvest Sawlogs

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

13. 13 Forest Ownership

14. 14 Land Use Change in New England (Acres per Year) ForestAg.Dev.Other Forest9,55151,94028,839 Agriculture33,12931,2981,859 Developed27,3997,7638,017 Other24,095014,905 Current Previous

15. 15 Forest Ownership Land Ownership Federal Family Corporate Industry State & local Family Forest Industry Other Private Federal State & local TIMO/ REIT

16. 16 Ownership Change in New England (Acres per Year) Federal State/ local Forest Industry Other private Family Non- forest Federal 5,8727,46227,2605,11710,936 State/ local 0 1,7783,6182,7481,712 Forest industry 5,2465,230 514,79040,44211,945 Other private 5,100130,20760,569 163,06854,461 Family13,99427,09317,404156,675 387,334 Non-forest4,7908,20203,23913,405 Current Previous

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 Size of Holdings (ac) Percentage

18. 18 Ownership Objectives

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%)

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%

21. 21 Landowners’ Concerns 1. Property taxes 2. Family legacy 3. Air or water pollution 4. Dumping 5. Insects or plant diseases

22. 22 Future Intentions 1. Harvest firewood 2. Minimal activity 3. Harvest sawlogs or pulpwood 4. Transfer all or part of land to heirs 5. No activity

23. 23 Area of Private Forestland in Vermont

24. 24 Family Forest Landholdings in Vermont by Area Parcel Size (Acres) Acres (Thousands)

25. 25 Family Forest Landholdings in Vermont by Number of Owners Parcel Size (Acres) Owners (Millions)

26. 26 Forest Parcel Size

27. 27 What next?  Population  Forestland  Public forests  Forest industry  TIMOs/REITs  Family forests  Land transfers  Parcelization  Ownership objectives

28. 28 Questions? Brett Butler U.S. Forest Service Northern Research Station Forest Inventory & Analysis Family Forest Research Center Holdsworth Hall, Amherst, MA 413.545.1387bbutler01@fs.fed.uswww.fs.fed.us/woodlandowners Photo Credit: Rich Widmann