Green Horizons

By The Numbers - The National Woodland Owner Survey in Missouri

By: STEVE WESTIN | Missouri Department of Conservation

The voluntary National Woodland Owner Survey is conducted by the U.S. Forest Service on a periodic basis to assess the characteristics and attitudes of the owners of America's private forest land. The last two surveys were completed in 2006 and 2013. The results of the survey help the Missouri Department of Conservation and other agencies and organizations understand and better assist Missouri's private forest landowners.

Selected results from the Survey will be periodically highlighted in this, and future, issues of Green Horizons. Due to differences in the number of surveys sent to Missouri landowners in the different years, some results can only be reported in a general way, while others can be more specific.

• 83% of Missouri's 15.4 million acres of forested land is privately owned. 92% (11.8 million acres) of that private ownership belongs to individuals and families. The remaining million acres of private land is owned by companies and other miscellaneous owners such as conservation organizations, clubs, etc.
• There are about 438,000 Missourians who own at least one acre of wooded land. This number is up significantly from the 339,000 owners estimated by the 2006 survey. Of the 438,000 forest owners estimated by the 2013 survey, 52% (about 226,000 people) own less than 10 acres of forest each. This is an increase from 43% (about 145,000 owners) estimated by the 2006 survey. While making up over half of Missouri forest owners this group only owns about 6.6% of the family-owned forest area in the state, up from 4.6% ownership in 2006.

The 2013 Survey shows that of the 212,000 Missouri landowners who own 10+ acres of forest:

• 40% own 10 - 19 acres
• 28% own 20 - 49 acres
• 18% own 50 - 99 acres
• 14% own 100+ acres, which totals 51% of the family forest area in Missouri.

In 2013, of Missouri landowners who own 10+ acres of forest:

• 10% are less than 45 years old
• 19% are 45 - 54 years old
• 32% are 55 - 64 years old
• 39% are 65 or older