US Forest ServiceForest Inventory and Analysis

National Woodland Owner Survey

Update

April 2, 2015

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Objectives

Help answer:• Who owns America’s

forest?• Why do they own it?• How have they used it in

the past?• How do they intend to

use it in the future?

NWOS History

• 1956• 1978• 1993• 2002-2006• 2011-2013• 2017-2019 (?)

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NWOS 2011-2013: Methods

“The NWOS sampling design can be described as spatially tessellated and temporally systematic, disproportionately stratified, with-replacement, and probability proportional to size.”- Dickinson and Butler 2013 (J. For. 111(5):319–325)

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NWOS 2011-2013: Methods

• Part of FIA

• Probability proportional to

size sample design

• Self-administered, mail-

based paper questionnaire

with online option and

telephone follow-up

• Most recent data collection:

2011-2013

Cooperation Rate

Number of Responses

Forest and Woodland by Ownership Class

United States, 2013

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Forest and Woodland Ownership, 2011

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Family

CorporateOtherprivate

Federal

State

Local

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Family Forests and Woodlands (10+ ac), US*

• Area2002-2006: 229 MM ac2011-2013: 225 MM ac

• Ownerships2002-2006: 3.9 MM2011-2013: 3.7 MM

• Average holding size 2002-2006: 58.7 ac2011-2013: 60.4 ac

* Excluding Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada, West Oklahoma, West Texas, and Wyoming

Size of Forest/Woodland Holdings (Acres)Family Forests and Woodlands (10+ ac), US, 2011-2013

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Reasons for Owning (1 of 3)Family Forests and Woodlands (10+ ac), US, 2011-2013

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Reasons for Owning (2 of 3)Family Forests and Woodlands (10+ ac), US, 2011-2013

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Reasons for Owning (3 of 3)Family Forests and Woodlands (10+ ac), US, 2011-2013

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NWOS 2011-2013: Basic Products

• Brochure• Tables*• NWOS Table Maker• Journal article• Documentation• Two-page summaries*• Articles for landowner

publications• Data wheel• Presentations

13* Automated using R and LaTeX

NWOS 2011-2013: Analyses

• Trends/point remeasurement

• New owners • Female owners• Generations• Landowner

engagement• Suburban owners

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The Future of the NWOS

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H. R. 2642 Sec. 8301 (b 10)

“Expand existing programs to promote sustainable forest stewardship through increased understanding, in partnership with other Federal agencies, of the over 10,000,000 family forest owners, their demographics, and the barriers to forest stewardship.”

2014 Farm Bill

NWOS 2017-2019: New Modules

• Corporate• Urban • Public (?)

• State– Intensifications– Add-ons

• Science modules– Climate change– Invasive species– Wildfire– Engagement– Decision making

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NWOS 2017-2019: Timing

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2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022

Planning

OMB

Pre-testing

Implementation

Processing

Analysis

Products

Selected Other Projects

• Institutionalization– NIMS– Documentation/DDI

• TIMOs and REITs• E-ownership• Sustaining Family Forests

Initiative• National Landowner Impact

Center• FSP Evaluation• Spatial products

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Staffing and Funding

• Staffing– Forest Service

• FIA: One (two soon!) FTEs• Other FS: 0.5 FTEs

– Two to four UMass FTEs

• Funding– FIA– S&PF– Special projects

• Partnerships– Other FS RWUs– UMass– S&PF

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Family Forest Research Center

Collaborations

• Other FS units• Various state forestry agencies• American Forest Foundation• UMass• Harvard Forest• Yale Univ.• Univ. Minnesota• Purdue Univ.• SUNY ESF• Auburn• And other universities

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Comments or Questions?

Brett Butler

U.S. Forest Service, Amherst, MA

bbutler01@fs.fed.us; 413.545.1387

www.fia.fs.fed.us/nwos

www.FamilyForestResearchCenter.org