The Boom in Forest Owners--A Bust for Forestry?

Abstract

Private forests are breaking into smaller ownerships. The largest parcels remain intact for now, but the acreage in midsize woodlots is shrinking and the bottom class is growing. As the size of their ownerships decreases, owners are less likely to see the relevance of forestry. Without significant investments in public relations and marketing, forestry will become less and less relevant to more and more people, and we will lose vital forests that can produce both environmental and economic benefits. We need new approaches and technologies designed for small parcels.