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Farm woodlots in northern New England, USA: Characteristics, management, and contributions to the whole farm system

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 March 2007

A.F. Egan
A.F. Egan*
Affiliation:
Département des sciences du bois et de la forêt, Université Laval, 2122A Pavillon Abitibi-Price, Ste-Foy, QC, CanadaG1K 7P4.
*
*Corresponding author: andrew.egan@sbf.ulaval.ca
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Abstract

Farms and forests dominate the rural landscape of the northern New England states of Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont, among the most heavily forested states in the US. However, we know little about the stewardship of farm woodlots and their contributions to the whole farm system, despite region-wide increases in farm forest acreage. Using a mail survey, this study found that almost half of respondents had a written management plan for their forestland, most of which had been written by a forester, and approximately three-quarters took an active role in the management of their woodlots. Farm woodlot harvesting and management contributed over 7% of total farm income. Variables such as respondent's state of residence, age, education and type of farm were investigated in order to better understand farmers’ forest stewardship behavior. Implications for effective outreach to farm forest owners are offered.

Keywords

farm woodlotfarm forestforest stewardship
Type
Research Article
Information
Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems , Volume 22 , Issue 1 , March 2007 , pp. 67 - 73
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2007

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