Sustaining Ecological and Economic Diversity Among Limited Resource Landholders by Expanding Opportunities for Management of Productive Woodlands

2005 Annual Report for LS01-126

Project Type: Research and Education
Funds awarded in 2001: $180,431.00
Projected End Date: 12/31/2005
Region: Southern
State: North Carolina
Principal Investigator:
Sarah Warren
North Carolina State University

Sustaining Ecological and Economic Diversity Among Limited Resource Landholders by Expanding Opportunities for Management of Productive Woodlands

Summary

Goals for this research and educational project were twofold: (1) to strengthen the capacities of limited-resource traditionally under-served forest landowners so that they could sustainably and profitably manage their forest resources, and (2) to identify opportunities for and constraints on their participation in timber and alternative forest-products sectors. Combining productive and sustainable woodlands with farming systems raises quality of life and diversifies farm incomes, especially for landowners who have not always able to take full advantage of farm and forestry assistance program opportunities.

The multi-institutional research and education team comprised North Carolina State University, North Carolina A&T State University, the Land Loss Prevention Project, and the Concerned Citizens of Tillery. We worked with voluntary organizations, community leaders, and local and state agencies in seven coastal plain counties. These (Duplin, Halifax, Northampton, Robeson, Sampson, and Warren in North Carolina, and Brunswick in Virginia) were characterized by many small private forest landholdings and high proportions of limited-resource traditionally underserved landowners. To accomplish our goals, we created outreach publications, collected and analyzed information from forest landowners, and held numerous listening and workshop sessions throughout the research counties. We maintain a website called “Sustainable Woodlands” (http://www.ncsu.edu/woodlands), and will locate continuation funding for producing outreach materials and conducting workshops.

Objectives/Performance Targets

The overarching goal of the project has been to strengthen the capacity of limited-resource traditionally underserved farm landowners to raise the economic and ecological values of their land by integrating sustainable forestry practices into farming systems. Short-term goals, such as improving understanding of farm and forest decision-making, evaluating how government incentives and markets for traditional and emerging woodland management options could be harnessed by land owners, and enhancing knowledge of these options through field days, demonstrations, and information campaigns, defined the research and education objectives.

Objective 1: to develop and apply methods for identifying and contacting landholders.

Objective 2: to describe and analyze the preferences, opportunities, and constraints that inform decision-making about woodland management within farming systems.

Objective 3: to analyze and select technically proven options for woodland management that are sustainable and appropriate to farm family goals and economic systems.

Objective 4: to extend these options to the client population through education and outreach.

Accomplishments/Milestones

89 in-person surveys were completed, and 1114 survey booklets mailed. The response rate for the mailed surveys was 27%. Survey data was coded and descriptive statistics prepared at NC A&T State University’s Applied Survey Research Laboratory. A doctoral student has begun additional analysis. A summary of survey results can be found at http://www.ncsu.edu/woodlands/research_pubs/surveysummary.pdf

Four all-day “Family Forestry Field Days” were held, in Brunswick County, VA, and in Warren, Northampton, and Duplin Counties, NC. Participants (local landowners, CES, SFOP, NRCS, county foresters, consulting foresters, and the project team) shared forestry information in the morning, followed by a catered lunch and afternoon field visits to forest lands owned by local families.

The project team hosted a half-day workshop for policy and planning decision-makers: “Reaching Limited Resource and Traditionally Underserved Forest Landowners”.

One additional “TreeTips” booklet was published on heir property, “Keeping the Family in Family Forest” with the support of the State Outreach Council.

The project website, http://www.ncsu.edu/woodlands, has been updated. It stores descriptive material about the project, PDF versions of all outreach materials, an on-line guide to agencies and organizations that provide forestry assistance, extensive background material on study county demographics and socio-economic indicators, a summary of research findings to date, and links to all progress reports, publications, and workshop materials.

The final project report has been filed.

Impacts and Contributions/Outcomes

Changes in forestry program opportunities, forest management behaviors, and participation in the forestry sector are all influenced by the long-term nature of forestry activities. We have observed a few instances in which limited-resource forest landowners have already improved their practices, explored new ones, and have initiated applications for forestry and other support programs. The short-term impacts of our research and education program can be measured by the enthusiasm of participants, and perhaps by the pace at which forestry information passes through communities. Long-term impacts, however, will be tied to larger institutional and sectoral change in the rural south. Funding for forestry and conservation assistance programs, if increased, should have a positive long-term effect. Forestry markets, which seem to be turning from short-rotation pulpwood to long-rotation high quality timber, may also have a positive impact. However, holding quality trees for longer periods introduces a greater level of risk for the small landowner and requires more intensive management. We do not know yet if public and private assistance foresters will be able to increase their level of service to limited-resource forest landowners, or if in turn limited-resource forest landowners will become more open to investing in longer-term land management strategies. We suggest, however, that proactive, persistent, and targeted assistance and outreach will be required to ensure successful ventures into woodland management that are both ecologically and economically productive.

Collaborators:

Savi Horne

savi@landloss.org
Executive Director
Land Loss Prevention Project
P.O. Box 179
Durham, NC 27702
Office Phone: 9196825969
Gary Grant

tillery@aol.com
Executive Director
Concerned Citizens of Tillery
P.O. Box 61
Tillery, NC 27887
Office Phone: 2528263017
Website: http://members.aol.com/tillery/
Frederick Cubbage

fred_cubbage@ncsu.edu
Professor
North Carolina State University
Box 8008
Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources
Raleigh, NC 27695-8008
Office Phone: 9195157789
Website: http://natural-resources.ncsu.edu/for/faculty/cubbage.html
Susan Moore

susan_moore@ncsu.edu
Director of Educational Outreach
North Carolina State University
Box 8003
Department of Forestry
Raleigh, NC 27695-8003
Office Phone: 9195153184
Website: http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/nreos/forest/feop/
Benjamin Gray, Jr.

grayb@ncat.edu
Assistant Professor
North Carolina A&T State University
A-27, C.H. Moore Agricultural Research Facility
Department of Agribusiness
Greensboro, NC 27411
Office Phone: 3363347072
Website: http://www.ag.ncat.edu/academics/edecon/faculty/bgray/Default.htm
Godfrey Chima Ejimakor

ejimakor@ncat.edu
Associate Professor
North Carolina A&T State University
Department of Agricultural Economics and Education
145 Carver Hall, 1601 East Market Street
Greensboro, NC 27411
Office Phone: 3363347943
Website: http://www.ag.ncat.edu/academics/edecon/faculty/ejimakor/default.html
Rick Hamilton

rick_hamilton@ncsu.edu
Extension Specialist, Department Extension Leader
North Carolina State University
Box 8003
Department of Forestry
Raleigh, NC 27695-8003
Office Phone: 9195155574
Robert Williamson

robertw@ncat.edu
Natural Resources Specialist
North Carolina A&T State University
P.O. Box 21928
Cooperative Extension Program
Greensboro, NC 27420
Office Phone: 3363347957
Erin Sills

erin_sills@ncsu.edu
Associate Professor
North Carolina State University
Box 8008
Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources
Raleigh, NC 27695-8008
Office Phone: 9195157784
Website: http://www4.ncsu.edu/~sills/home.htm