FIA Ownership ClassificationFIA Ownership Classification

Brett J. ButlerBrett J. ButlerNational Woodland Owner Survey CoordinatorNational Woodland Owner Survey Coordinator

Forest Inventory and AnalysisForest Inventory and Analysis

USDA Forest ServiceUSDA Forest Service

National FIA Users Group MeetingAugust 1, 2002

Quick OverviewQuick Overview

Why does FIA collect Why does FIA collect ownership information?ownership information?

What information have we What information have we been collecting?been collecting?

How do we collect this How do we collect this information?information?

How are data stored and How are data stored and distributed?distributed?

Where are we headed?Where are we headed? DiscussionDiscussion

The Need for Ownership DataThe Need for Ownership Data

It is ultimately the owners who decide if the land It is ultimately the owners who decide if the land will be developed, timber will be harvested, or a will be developed, timber will be harvested, or a nature preserve will be establishednature preserve will be established

““Recognize and identify ownership, regulatory, Recognize and identify ownership, regulatory, and social impacts on forest productivity” and social impacts on forest productivity”

- FIA Blue Ribbon Panel- FIA Blue Ribbon Panel

““Not everything that can be counted Not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts counts, and not everything that counts can be counted.” can be counted.”

- Albert Einstein- Albert Einstein

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

1953 1978 1994

Are

a (M

illi

ons

of A

cres

)

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

Ow

ners

hips

(M

illi

ons)

Public Area Private Area Private Owners

Forest Ownership in the U.S.Forest Ownership in the U.S.

Source: USDA Forest Service 1958, Birch et al. 1978, Birch 1996, Smith et al. 1997

Ownership Information CollectedOwnership Information Collected

RPA OwnershipRPA Ownership Current FIA forest Current FIA forest

inventoryinventory Current FIA Current FIA

ownerships surveyownerships survey

Ownership Schema for National Ownership Schema for National Forest Assessments, 1907 - 1997Forest Assessments, 1907 - 1997

All Forest Ownerships1907 1907

Public Private

Other Private

FarmerNational Forests

National Parks

Tribal Lands

Military Reserves

Public Domain

All Forest Ownerships1953 1953

Public Private

State

County

Federal

National Forest

Non-Federal Forest Industry

Tribal Lands

Other Federal

Bureau of LandManagement

Lumber Manuf.

Other Wood Manuf.

Pulp Manuf.

Other PrivateFarmer

Municipal andLocal

All Forest Ownerships1987 1987

Public Private

Federal Non-Federal Forest Industry

National Forest

Other Federal

Bureau of LandManagement

Other PrivateFarmer

State

Tribal Lands

County and Municipal

All Forest Ownerships19971997

Public Private

State

County

Federal

National Forest

Non-Federal Forest Industry

Other Federal

Bureau of LandManagement

NonindustrialPrivate

Municipal andLocal

FIA Forest InventoryFIA Forest Inventory

Ownership GroupOwnership Group– Forest Service, other federal, state/local, privateForest Service, other federal, state/local, private

Ownership ClassOwnership Class– National Forest, National Grassland, other forest National Forest, National Grassland, other forest

service, NPS, BLM, F&WS DOD/DOE, Other federal, service, NPS, BLM, F&WS DOD/DOE, Other federal, state, local, other non-federal public, corporation, state, local, other non-federal public, corporation, NGO/natural resource organization, unincorporated NGO/natural resource organization, unincorporated Partnership/assoc./club, Native American, individualPartnership/assoc./club, Native American, individual

Industrial StatusIndustrial Status

Collection of Ownership DataCollection of Ownership DataForest InventoryForest Inventory

Aerial photographsAerial photographs

→ → County/municipal tax officesCounty/municipal tax offices

→ → Ownership name and addressOwnership name and address

→ → Categorize ownership Categorize ownership

→ → Ask for accessAsk for access

FIA Ownership SurveyFIA Ownership Survey

Forestland characteristicsForestland characteristics– Size of forestland holdingsSize of forestland holdings– Number of forestland Number of forestland

parcelsparcels Ownership traitsOwnership traits

– Form of ownershipForm of ownership– Reasons for ownershipReasons for ownership– Forestland uses and Forestland uses and

managementmanagement– Constraints and future Constraints and future

plansplans– DemographicsDemographics

Collection of Ownership DataCollection of Ownership DataOwnership SurveyOwnership Survey

Name and address from forest inventoryName and address from forest inventory

→ → Direct mailing (→ Telephone follow-up)Direct mailing (→ Telephone follow-up)

→ → Completed questionnairesCompleted questionnaires

Data Storage & DistributionData Storage & Distribution

StorageStorage– ConfidentialityConfidentiality

– Fire walls & data keysFire walls & data keys

DistributionDistribution– PublicationsPublications

– DatabasesDatabases

Where are we headed?Where are we headed?

A system that:A system that:– Accurately reflects the Accurately reflects the

intentions, opportunities, intentions, opportunities, and constraints of and constraints of landowners;landowners;

– Provides cProvides consistent and onsistent and timely data across all timely data across all ownerships and across ownerships and across the whole country; andthe whole country; and

– Is capable of tracking Is capable of tracking large-scale changes.large-scale changes.

Comments or Comments or questions? questions?