Forest Facts
Many Americans erroneously believe that America's forests are owned, protected, and managed as public land. When they drive past forestland they assume someone is watching out for it and ensuring that it does not disappear.
The reality is that more than 58 percent of the U.S. forestland is owned by 10 million family forestland owners. The USDA Forest Service (federal lands and parks) manages only 19 percent, the forest industry owns 13 percent, and other public agencies own 10 percent. These small, privately owned lands not only are the largest area of forest ownership in the U.S, but they also comprise the nation's largest area of the most biologically productive forestland.
Trend data suggests during the next 20 years the number of family forest owners will increase from 10 million to 12 million.
The sustainable future of our forestlands therefore rest in the wise stewardship and commitment of individual forest landowners. | 
