Evaluating forest management intensity: A comparison among major forest landowner types

As the global demand for timber expands and timber inventory in the western United States continuously declines, southern U.S. forests are becoming an increasingly important source of timber. Timberlands in the U.S. South are owned by a diverse group of landowners with varying objectives: industrial, timber investment management organizations (TIMOs), nonindustrial, and state forest landowners. Forest management intensity of these landowner groups was evaluated by looking at the forest management activities and expenditures of Mississippi forestland owners. Industrial landowners and TIMOs had similar management characteristics and managed their lands more intensively than the state and NIPF landowners. Industrial landowners and TIMOs invested more in intensive forestry activities and treated a significantly greater proportion of their timberlands. In contrast, the majority of NIPF expenditures consisted of fixed costs like property taxes. State ownerships reported minimal investment in intensive forestry activities. Intensive forest management was influenced by ownership size, ownership type, and proportion of timberland area in pine.