Description
Nonindustrial private forest (NIPF) land represents approximately 48 percent of the forest land cover in the United States and has played an important role in meeting an increasing domestic wood demand (Smith et al. 2004). Conscientious stewardship of these forests is a perennial issue facing natural resource professionals due to the large number of owners and their diverse interests. Landowner assistance programs such as the American Tree Farm System, the Forest Stewardship Program, and woodland owner associations exist to stimulate forest management and reforestation on these ownerships through subsidies of money and materials.
