Ecosystem Service Supply and Capacity on U.S. Family Forestlands

Jesse Caputo,Brett Butler

doi:10.3390/f8100395

Abstract

Individuals and families collectively own more than 118 million ha of forestland in the USA. Using data from the USDA Forest Service’s National Woodland Owners Survey (NWOS), we characterize ecosystem services being produced on family forests as well as the beneficiaries who enjoy them. Approximately half of family forest owners provide one or more provisioning services. With the exception of logs, the provisioning services provided by the majority of owners are enjoyed directly by owners or their close associates (i.e., family, friends, and neighbors). Similarly, while more than half of family forest owners have provided recreational opportunities, a cultural service, to their close associates, fewer than 6% of owners have sold or provided recreational services to the general public. Regulating and supporting services are linked to the maintenance of long-term forest cover. Greater than 80% of family forest owners desire to maintain the forested condition of their land, whereas a much smaller percentage of these owners have entered into conservation easements or have collected money for conservation purposes. In addition, many owners have engaged in activities expected to increase the future capacity of their land to provide multiple ecosystem services, both excludable and non-excludable.

Highlights

Forests and woodlands owned by individuals, families, and trusts constitute the largest group of forest ownerships in the United States [1]
In part 3, we look at the management behaviors of family forest ownerships (FFOs) that are likely to affect the capacity—the potential—of their forests and woodlands to supply ecosystem services in the future
Part of the USDA Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) program, the National Woodland Owners Survey (NWOS) is a longitudinal survey of private forest and woodland owners

Summary

Introduction

Forests and woodlands owned by individuals, families, and trusts (hereafter called family forests) constitute the largest group of forest ownerships in the United States [1]. Of the 330 million ha of forest and woodland across the U.S, 118 million ha (35.6%) qualify as family forests (Figure 1). 4 million family forest ownerships (FFOs) each own 4 or more ha of forest or woodland, with collective holdings of nearly 109 million ha (32.9% of all forests and woodlands and 92.5% of all family forests). Family forests are concentrated in the eastern U.S.A., with smaller area in the western regions—where public and corporate ownership is predominant. Regardless of FFOs’ reasons for owning their land, family forests are a valuable source of ecosystem services to society. Fisher et al [3]

Methods

Results

Conclusion