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. America has 751 million acres of forestland.
The reality is 62 percent of this forestland is owned by families and individuals - family forests - according to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). The remaining private forestland is owned by corporations, organizations, clubs, Native American tribes, and others.
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.
Tune in to the Earth & Sky radio network and website to hear Sally Collins, USDA, discuss the threats forests face from development.
Private forest landowner, Jo Pierce (Maine) discusses what his private forests means to him.
Neil Sampson (Virginia) talks about climate change speeding flux of forest ecosystems.
Robert Bonnie (Washington, D.C.) explains the how the Safe Harbor Agreement protects wildlife and landowners.
