Abstract
In the early nonindustrial private forest (family forest) research literature, size of forest holding was identified as a critical variable impacting the propensity of family forest owners to invest in and manage small forest properties. This literature discusses relationships between size of forest holding and variables like forest owners’ financial and asset positions, forest management objectives, use of a forest management plan and professional forestry advice, and use of forestry cost-share funding. Since then, the literature has expanded and now relates to the major problem of forest parcelization. We reviewed this literature for historical themes, technical considerations, and continuing ownership problems, emphasizing the current circumstances of forest parcelization and its historical roots in the size of forest holding problem. Many of the sociological, economic, financial, and technical relationships identified earlier as foundations of the size of forest holding problem are shown to be also fundamental to the parcelization problem in forestry. We suggest that today’s parcelization issues are partially a continuation of the size of forest holding problem and that earlier research may be relevant to parcelization problems. We provide a detailed literature review that relates parcelization to the size of forest holding problem.
Highlights
There are about 11.3 million private forest owners in the United States; of those, 10.4 million are family forest owners [1]
nonindustrial private forests (NIPF) owners are a subset of private forest owners and family forest owners are a subset of NIPF owners [1]
There is an interrelationship as the same socioeconomic factors are driving both processes; both have foundations of owner attitudes towards forest management that are impacted by tract size and affect much more than timber supply, including the whole array of ecosystem services, like wildlife habitat and clean water [109]
Summary
There are about 11.3 million private forest owners in the United States; of those, 10.4 million are family forest owners [1]. Since most data comes from U.S Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service surveys, the definitions of these terms are relevant: NIPF owners are defined as “family and individuals who own forestland and corporations and other private groups that own forestland, but do not own and operate a primary wood-processing facility”. Forests control over a third of the nation’s forested land and are important in all regions These regional ownership patterns control many of the parameters that lead to owners practicing sustainable forest management. It is important to understand the motivations, limitations, and management objectives of family forest owners because they own a large portion of the nation’s forestland and account for much of the nation’s forest outputs [3]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
