Issue: Forest Ownership and Parcelization

Parcelization is the division of parcels of land into smaller parcels among multiple owners. Who owns forest land strongly influences the condition of forests in Wisconsin. Non-industrial private landowners own 57% of Wisconsin's forest lands. The state owns just 5% and the federal government about 10%. Counties and municipalities own the largest percentage at 15% of Wisconsin's forest land, followed by forest industry at 7%, private corporations at 4%, and tribal lands at 2%. Between 1984 and 1997, the number of Wisconsin's non-industrial private owners increased by 20% to about 270,000 statewide.

Today, forested parcels are more likely to be purchased by people who have different values than the forest owner of the past. Rather than the farmer who owned forestland and used it primarily to supplement their income, many of today's new forest landowners are from urban areas and own forest primarily for recreational use or aesthetic values. These newer private owners tend to be more cautious about harvesting their timber, less knowledgeable about rural areas and the forest they've moved to, wealthier than past owners, and more likely to be absentee landowners. Parcelization in turn can then lead to an increase in fragmentation.

Use the model implementation language below to develop goals, objectives, and policies that address this issue.

• Model Implementation Language
• Fact Sheet (PDF, 318K)

Consider the Issue by Element

Agricultural, Natural and Cultural Resources
Housing
Intergovernmental Cooperation
Issues and Opportunities
Land Use
Transportation
Utilities and Community Facilities

Trends related to Forest Ownership and Parcelization

There is an increasing need for Private forestry assistance.
With the increasing number of non-industrial private forestland owners, it is becoming more difficult to provide professional forest management guidance to these landowners. It is estimated that only about 20% of these landowners receive professional assistance prior to having timber harvested from their lands. With over ten million acres of forestland, the management of these non-industrial private lands is critical to ensuring the sustainability of Wisconsin's forests.

Demographics of forest landowners are changing.
Today, forested parcels are more likely to be purchased by people who have different values than the forest owner of the past. Rather than the farmer who owned forest and used it primarily to supplement his income, many of today's new forest owners are from urban areas who own forest for primarily recreational use or aesthetic values. These newer private owners tend to be more cautious about harvesting their timber, less knowledgeable about rural areas and the forest they've moved to, wealthier than past owners, and more likely to be absentee landowners.