NWOS Short Form and Science Modules First Mailing Survey

_{NWOS First Cover Letter}

Dear Landowner:

We invite you to participate in the National Woodland Owner Survey conducted by the U.S. Forest Service. Your participation will help policy makers, land managers, and public and private service providers better understand and address the needs and concerns of America’s private landowners.

Whether you own one acre of trees, thousands of acres, or something in between, we are interested in hearing from you. You were identified as a landowner from public ownership records. We are contacting only a few owners in each state. Because of the limited number of owners contacted, your answers are especially important. This survey is conducted once every 5 years to understand new topics and changes over time. If you responded during the last cycle, we ask that you respond again.

This is an official U.S. Forest Service survey, but your participation is voluntary. Your answers will be confidential and will be combined with others. The results will only be used to determine patterns and trends. Completing the questionnaire takes, on average, 25 minutes.

If you do not currently own land, please return the questionnaire using the postage-paid return envelope and write on the cover “No Land Owned.”

If you would like to receive a copy of the results from this survey, write your name and address on the back of the return envelope.

We greatly appreciate your valuable assistance. If you have any questions, please call us toll-free at 1-855-233-3372, visit our website at www.fia.fs.usda.gov/nwos/, or write us at USDA Forest Service, National Woodland Owner Survey, 160 Holdsworth Way, Amherst MA 01003.

Brett J. Butler, Survey Director

NWOS: BASE Short Form Survey and Science Modules

OMB # 0596-0078

Expiration date: to be updated

Paperwork Reduction Act Notice

A Federal agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, nor shall a person be subject to a penalty for failure to comply with an information collection subject to the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 unless the information collection has a currently valid OMB Control Number. The approved OMB Control Number for this information collection is 0596-0078. Without this approval, we could not conduct this survey. Public reporting for this information collection is estimated to be approximately 25 minutes per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the information collection. All responses to this information collection are voluntary. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this information collection, including suggestions for reducing this burden to the U.S.D.A. Forest Service email address SM.FS.InfoCollect@usda.gov and include the OMB Control Number in the subject line.

Instructions

• Please provide answers for all of the wooded land that you own in [STATE]. If you are part of more than one group that owns wooded land, please respond for the group that is listed on the outside of the envelope.

• The owner who makes most of the decisions about your wooded land in [STATE] should answer this survey.

• If this survey is received by a company or other organization, please have a person knowledgeable about the organization’s wooded land in [STATE] answer this survey.

General Questions About Your land

1. How many total acres of land do you currently own in [STATE]?

_______Acres of land in [STATE]

2. Wooded land covers XX% of [STATE]. Wooded land includes:

• Woods, woodlots, timberland, and forests

• Land at least 1 acre in size, 120 feet wide, and has at least 10% forest cover

• Land at least 1 acre in size, where trees were removed and trees will grow again

Wooded land does not include:

• Christmas tree farms, orchards, or nurseries

• Land that is mowed for lawn

How many acres of wooded land do you currently own in [STATE]?

_______Acres of wooded land in [STATE]

If you own any wooded land in [STATE], please complete this survey.

If you do not own wooded land in [STATE], please return this survey in the postage-paid envelope provided and write on the cover "No Wooded Land"

General Questions About Your Ownership

3. Which category below best describes your ownership?

Select only one.

• Individual

• Joint, with husband or wife

• Joint, such as with other family members or friends

• Family partnership or family LLC or LLP

• Family trust or estate

• Corporation or business (for-profit)

• Corporation or business (non-profit)

• Other (please specify):________________________________

4. How many people are a part of this ownership, including you?

_________Owners

5. Do you currently own more than one separate, unconnected property with wooded land in [STATE]?

• Yes

• No

6. Is your home (primary residence) on or within a mile of any of your wooded land in [STATE]?

• Yes

• No

• Not Applicable

7. Do you have a vacation home or cabin on or within a mile of any of your wooded land in [STATE]?

• Yes

• No

• Not Applicable

8. Do you own any land within a mile of any of your wooded land in [STATE] that is farmed or ranched?

For the purpose of this survey, a farm or ranch is a place where, in most years, $1,000 or more is earned from the sale of crops (other than forest products) or animals.

• Yes

• No

• Not applicable

9. Which of the following water body, if any, do you have on your wooded land in [STATE]?

Select yes or no for each item

Yes No

£ £ Pond/lake

£ £ River/stream/creek

£ £ Wetland/bog

£ £ Other (please specify):

Your Reasons for Owning Wooded Land

10. How important are the following as reasons for why you currently own your wooded land in [STATE]?

	Very Important	Important	Moderately Important	Of little Importance	Not important	Not applicable
To enjoy beauty or scenery
To protect nature or biological diversity
To protect water resources
To protect or improve wildlife habitat
For land investment
For privacy
To raise my family
To pass land on to my children or other heirs
For cultural/spiritual reasons
For firewood
For timber products, such as logs or pulpwood
For nontimber forest products, such as berries or maple syrup
For grazing/shade animals
For hunting
For recreation, other than hunting

The History of Your Wooded Land

11. a. How did you get your wooded land in [STATE]?

Select yes or no for each item

Yes No

£ £ Purchased

£ £ Inherited

£ £ Received as gift

£ £ Other (please specify):

b. In what year did you, personally, first take ownership of your

wooded land in [STATE]?

_________Year

12.a. Have you ever sold or given away any of your wooded land in [STATE]?

• Yes

• No

Uses of Your Wooded Land

13.Who makes the management decisions, such as whether or not to harvest trees, for your wooded land in [STATE]?

Select yes or no for each item

Yes No

£ £ Me

£ £ My husband or wife

£ £ My children

£ £ My parents

£ £ Another family member

£ £ My business partner

£ £ My land manager or forester

£ £ Other (please specify):

14. A management or stewardship plan may be written in order to help the landowner meet their goals for their wooded land.

a. How familiar are you with these types of plans?

• Extremely familiar

• Moderately familiar

• Somewhat familiar

• Slightly familiar

• Not at all familiar

b. Do you have a written management or stewardship plan for any of your wooded land in [STATE]?

• Yes

• No

• Don't know

If no or don't know, skip to question 15

If yes, please answer c

c. Have you take actions to implement it?

• Yes

• No

15. a. What types of products, if any, were cut or removed from any of your wooded land in [STATE] since you have owned it?

Select yes or no for each item

Yes No

£ £ Firewood, for sale

£ £ Firewood, for personal use

£ £ Logs, for sale

£ £ Logs, for personal use

£ £ Wood chips or pulpwood, for sale

£ £ Wood chips or pulpwood, for personal use

£ £ Other (please specify):

b. Was a professional forester used to plan, mark, contract, or oversee any of the cuts?

• Yes

• No

• Don't know

• Not applicable

16. Which of the following have occurred on your wooded land in [STATE] in the past 5 years?

Select yes or no for each item

Yes No

£ £ Cut and/or removed trees for sale

£ £ Cut and/or removed trees for own use

£ £ Planted tree

£ £ Collected nontimber forest products, such as berries or ginseng

£ £ Reduced fire hazard

£ £ Controlled burn/prescribed fire

£ £ Eliminated or reduced invasive plants

£ £ Eliminated or reduced unwanted insects or diseases

£ £ Road construction or maintenance

£ £ Trail construction or maintenance

£ £ Improved wildlife habitat

£ £ Livestock grazing

£ £ Other (please specify):

17. Which of the following will likely occur on your wooded land in [STATE] in the next 5 years?

Select yes, no, or don’t know for each item

Yes No/Don’t know

£ £ Cut and/or remove trees for sale

£ £ Cut and/or remove trees for own use

£ £ Plant tree

£ £ Collect nontimber forest products, such as berries or ginseng

£ £ Reduce fire hazard

£ £ Controlled burn/prescribed fire Eliminate or reduce invasive plants

£ £ Eliminate or reduce unwanted insects or diseases

£ £ Road construction or maintenance

£ £ Trail construction or maintenance

£ £ Improve wildlife habitat

£ £ Livestock grazing

£ £ Other (please specify):

18.To encourage good woodland management, groups have created green certification programs to recognize landowners who comply with the groups’ standards. Examples include Tree Farm, Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), and Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI).

a. How familiar are you with green certification?

• Extremely familiar

• Moderately familiar

• Somewhat familiar

• Slightly familiar

• Not at all familiar

b. Is any of your wooded land in [STATE] currently green certified?

• Yes

• No

• Don't know

19. Some state and local governments have programs that defer, reduce, or eliminate property taxes for wooded land. In [STATE], there are the Tree Growth Tax Law and Open Space Tax Law programs.

1. How familiar are you with these programs?

• Extremely familiar

• Moderately familiar

• Somewhat familiar

• Slightly familiar

• Not at all familiar

2. Is any of your wooded land in [STATE] currently enrolled in one of these programs or a similar one?

• Yes

• No

• Don't know

20. Development rights for land can be sold or voluntarily given away. This is usually in the form of a conservation easement.

a. How familiar are you with this concept?

• Extremely familiar

• Moderately familiar

• Somewhat familiar

• Slightly familiar

• Not at all familiar

2. Have development rights been sold or voluntarily given away on any of your wooded land in [STATE] by either you or a previous owner?

• Yes

• No

• Don’t know

22. Cost-share/financial assistance programs provide landowners with money to help them establish or otherwise manage their wooded land. Examples include the Conservation Reserve Program, the Environmental Quality Incentives Program, the Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program, and various state funded programs.

1. How familiar are you with cost-share/financial assistance programs?

• Extremely familiar

• Moderately familiar

• Somewhat familiar

• Slightly familiar

• Not at all familiar

2. In the past 5 years, have you used a cost-share program to help you establish or manage your wooded land in [STATE]?

• Yes

• No

• Don't know

22. Have you leased any of your wooded land in [STATE] in the past five years for the following

Select yes or no for each item

Yes No

£ £ Logging

£ £ Hunting

£ £ Recreation (other than hunting)

£ £ To graze/pasture livestock

£ £ Solar/wind

£ £ Oil/gas

£ £ Other (please specify):

23. In efforts to reduce the impacts of climate change, public programs and private markets have been created that pay owners of wooded land for capturing or sequestering carbon.

a. How familiar are you with carbon capture programs or markets?

• Extremely familiar

• Moderately familiar

• Somewhat familiar

• Slightly familiar

• Not at all familiar

b. Is any of your wooded land in [STATE] currently enrolled in one of these carbon capture programs or markets?

• Yes

• No

• Don't know

Recreation on Your Wooded Land

24 a. Who, with your permission, has hunted, hiked, or otherwise recreated on your wooded land in [STATE] in the past 5 years?

Select yes or no for each item

Yes No

£ £ Me and/or my husband or wife

£ £ My children

£ £ Other family members

£ £ Friends

£ £ Neighbors

£ £ The general public for free

£ £ The general public for a fee

£ £ The general public as part of an access program

£ £ Other (please specify):

25. What activity, if any, is posted to restrict access and/or use by the general public on any of your wooded land in [STATE]

Select yes or no for each item

Yes No

£ £ Trespassing

£ £ Hunting

£ £ Motorized vehicles

£ £ Other (please specify):

Sources of Information

26. Have you talked with anyone or received information/advice about

the care, management, or protection of your wooded land in [STATE] in the past 5 years?

• Yes

• No

Concerns

27. Please indicate your level of concern about each of the following topics for your wooded land in [STATE].

	Great concern	Concern	Moderate concern	Of little concern	No concern	Not applicable
Air pollution
Climate change
Damage from animals
Development of nearby lands
Drought or lack of water
Damage or noise from off-road vehicles
Government regulation
High property taxes
Invasive plants
Keeping land intact for future generations
Misuse of wooded land, such as vandalism or dumping
Trespassing or poaching
Unwanted insects or diseases
Water pollution
Wildfire
Damage from storms
Weak timber markets

The Future of Your Wooded Land

28. a. How likely is it that you will sell, give away, or otherwise transfer any of your wooded land in [STATE] in the next 5 years?

• Extremely likely

• Likely

• Undecided

• Unlikely

• Extremely unlikely

29. Please indicate your level of agreement with the following statements about the future of your wooded land.

Select one box for each item

	Strongly agree	Agree	Neither agree nor disagree	Disagree	Strongly disagree
I want my wooded land to stay wooded
I would sell my land if I was offered a reasonable price

One set of science module questions below will be added to the NWOS Short Form, depending on funding and needs, and the complete survey will exceed 25 minutes.

NWOS Scimod: Afforestation

NOTE: These questions will be in addition to the core NWOS survey slightly altered for all lands. It will say ‘land’ instead of ‘wooded land’. Some additional options will be added into the core questions – just the added options are listed here.

GENERAL QUESTIONS ABOUT YOUR LAND

1. Do you own this type of land in [GEOGRAPHY]:

Select yes or no for each item

Yes No

£ £ Woodland

£ £ Cropland

£ £ Pasture

£ £ Rangeland

£ £ Shrub/scrub land

£ £ Wetland

£ £ Grassland

£ £ Developed

£ £ Other (open water, ice, barren land/wasteland)

2. Do you have the following on or abutting your land in [GEOGRAPHY]?

Select yes or no for each item

Yes No

£ £ Stream/creek/river

£ £ Pond/lake

£ £ Floodplain

£ £ Wetland/bog

3. Do you consider any of your land not easily cultivated for farming?

• Yes

• No

• I don’t know

GENERAL QUESTIONS ABOUT YOUR OWNERSHIP

4. If you own land that is farmed or ranched, how many generations of your family have been involved in farming this land?

______generations

YOUR REASONS FOR OWNING YOUR LAND

5. How important are the following as reasons for why you currently own your land in [GEOGRAPHY]?

	Very Important	Important	Moderately Important	Of little Importance	Not important	Not applicable
Part of my home or vacation home
Part of my farm or ranch
For farming crops
For pasture/ranching

USES OF YOUR LAND

6. Have you planted trees on any of the following land types in the past 5 years?

Select yes or no for each item

Yes No

£ £ Woodland

£ £ Cropland

£ £ Pasture

£ £ Rangeland

£ £ Shrub/scrub land

£ £ Wetland

£ £ Grassland

£ £ Lawn

£ £ Land not easily cultivated for farming

£ £ Other (open water, ice, barren land/wasteland)

7. Are you planning on planting trees on any of the following land types in the next 5 years?

Select yes or no for each item

Yes No

£ £ Woodland

£ £ Cropland

£ £ Pasture

£ £ Rangeland

£ £ Shrub/scrub land

£ £ Wetland

£ £ Grassland

£ £ Lawn

£ £ Land not easily cultivated for farming

£ £ Other (open water, ice, barren land/wasteland)

8. Which of the following forest management activities will likely occur on your land in [GEOGRAPHY] in the next 5 years?

Select yes or no for each item

Yes No

£ £ Plant trees on previously wooded areas

£ £ Let trees grow back naturally on previously wooded areas

9. Which of the following farming activities will likely occur on your land in [GEOGRAPHY] in the next 5 years?

Select yes, no/don’t know for each item

Yes No/Don’t know

£ £ Livestock grazing

£ £ Farming for crops

£ £ Plant trees on lawn

£ £ Plant trees on ‘marginal land’

£ £ Let trees grow naturally on lawn

£ £ Let trees grow naturally on ‘marginal land’

10. Cost-share programs provide landowners with money to help them establish or otherwise manage their land. Examples include the Conservation Reserve Program, the Environmental Quality Incentives Program, the Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program, and various state funded programs.



3. Have you participated in a government cost share program specifically related to tree planting?

• Yes

• No

AFFORESTATION

11. a. In the past 5 years, has any of your non-wooded land changed to wooded land in [STATE]? Please include land that transitioned because it naturally grew back as well as land that transitioned because trees were planted.

• Yes, trees were planted >if yes, please answer b

• Yes, trees grew back on their own > please skip to question XX

• No > please skip to question XX

• I don’t know > please skip to question XX

b. If trees were planted on your non-wooded land in the past 5 years, was it because you were enrolled in a program that paid for trees to be planted?

• Yes

• No

3. If you have planted trees in the past 5 years, what motivated you to do so?

Select yes or no for each item

Yes No

£ £ Legacy to descendants

£ £ Future income

£ £ Shade

£ £ Local environment protection (e.g., soils, air and water)

£ £ Mitigation of climate change

£ £ Restoration of native forest cover

£ £ Wildlife habitat enhancement

£ £ Participation in a program

3. If you have planted trees in the past 5 years, how successful was their growth?

• Most of the trees grew successfully

• Some of the trees grew successfully

• Almost none of the trees grew successfully

• None of the trees grew successfully

• I don’t know

3. How many trees did you plant?

• 1-9

• 10-49

• 50-99

• 100-499

• 500+

12. In the next 5 years, how likely is it that at least some of your non-wooded land will transition to wooded land in [GEOGRAPHY]?

• Extremely likely

• Likely

• Undecided

• Unlikely

• Extremely unlikely

13. What, if any, planting activities would make it more likely for you to allow trees to grow in areas where recently there were no trees?

Select yes or no for each item

Yes No

£ £ Planting tree species naturally occurring in your region

£ £ Planting tree species for future income

£ £ Planting and managing the trees yourself

£ £ Planting and managing the trees with a forester

£ £ Having an outside organization plant and manage the trees

£ £ Planting trees on marginal land

£ £ Planting trees on productive land

£ £ Planting trees on a small proportion of your land

£ £ Planting trees on a large proportion of your land

£ £ Getting paid to plant trees

£ £ Having low-cost seedlings available

£ £ I don’t want trees to grow in areas where recently there were no trees

14. How strongly do you agree or disagree with the following statements?

	Strongly agree	Agree	Neither agree nor disagree	Disagree	Strongly disagree	NA
Good farm land should grow food, not trees
It is acceptable to grow trees on good farm land
It is more acceptable to plant trees on marginal land than good farm land
Planting trees would make my land management more complicated
Planting trees would reduce my ability to manage my land flexibly
Planting trees would benefit me by providing a diversified income stream
Planting trees would increase the value of my property
Planting trees has environmental benefits to my property
Planting trees has environmental benefits beyond my property
Planting trees improves how my property looks
It is too risky to plant trees, as they might be killed by drought or fire
My neighbors will appreciate if more of my land is wooded
My community appreciates wooded land
Trees growing on my property is undesirable

Deforestation

15. In the past 5 years, have you cleared any of your wooded land?

• Yes

• No

16. Why did you clear some or all of your wooded land in the past 5 years?

Select yes or no for each item

Yes No

£ £ To grow crops

£ £ For pasture/rangeland

£ £ For views/beauty

£ £ To install solar or wind energy

£ £ To build a house/cabin

£ £ Other (please specify):

17. In the next 5 years, how likely are you to clear some or all of your wooded land to nonwooded land?

• Extremely likely

• Likely

• Undecided

• Unlikely

• Extremely unlikely

18. Which, if any, of the following types of organizations do you currently belong to?

Select yes or no for each item

Yes No

£ £ Local conservation group

£ £ National/state conservation group

£ £ Local land trust

£ £ Agricultural landowner group

£ £ Woodland owner group

£ £ A hunting group

£ £ Religious group

£ £ Other (please specify):_______________

CONCERNS

19. Please indicate your level of concern about each of the following topics for your land in [GEOGRAPHY].

	Great concern	Concern	Moderate concern	Of little concern	No concern	Not applicable
Trees encroaching on your farmland or rangeland
Your land being unproductive

THE FUTURE OF YOUR LAND

20. Please indicate your level of agreement with the following statements.

	Strongly agree	Agree	Neither agree nor disagree	Disagree	Strongly disagree
I want the number of trees on my land to stay about the same
I want the number of trees on my land to increase
I want the number of trees on my land to decrease

NWOS Scimod: Agroforestry

Windbreaks, Shelterbelts and Hedgerows

Windbreaks, Shelterbelts and Hedgerows are rows of trees and shrubs that are used to create a more favorable environment for soils, crops, livestock, wildlife, and people. In some cases, they are designed to slow wind, while other times they are designed for visual screening, snow management, odor control, shade for livestock/buildings/people, enhancing pollination, field/property borders, etc.

1. Do you have any windbreaks, shelterbelts or hedgerows on your property?

• Yes

• No

If no, please skip to question XX

2. Please estimate the total miles or feet in windbreak, shelterbelt and/or hedgerow. Include all windbreak types.

_______miles/feet (circle which unit of measurement)

3. Do you use windbreaks, shelterbelts and/or hedgerows for any of the following? Select yes or no for each item

Yes No

£ £ Used around buildings (shade, energy savings, etc.)

£ £ Used to provide boundaries around property or certain parts of the property

£ £ Used to manage snow

£ £ Used for natural resources conservation purposes

£ £ Used for visual screening

£ £ Used for wildlife habitat

£ £ Used for noise control

£ £ Used for dust control

£ £ Other, please specify:

4. . Were any of the following activities used to establish windbreaks, shelterbelts, and/or hedgerows on your land?

Establishment Activities	YES	NO	DON'T KNOW
Hand planted tree seedlings	1	3	2
Mechanically planted tree seedlings	1	3	2
Used herbicides for weed control/site preparation prior to planting	1	3	2
Used cultivation for weed control/site preparation prior to planting	1	3	2
Used barrier weed control (mulch, plastic, etc.) to establish trees	1	3	2
Irrigated trees during the 1-3 year establishment period	1	3	2
Controlled weeds after planting trees during the 1-3 year establishment period	1	3	2
Installed fencing and/or tree tubes to protect trees from wildlife/livestock	1	3	2
Replanted seedlings to fill gaps	1	3	2
Established windbreak without planting by allowing trees to grow naturally	1	3	2
Other establishment activities - Specify: ____________________________________________________________

5. When were windbreaks, shelterbelts, and/or hedgerows established on your land? Select all that apply

• Less than 5 years ago

• 5 years – less than 10 years ago

• 10 years – less than 15 years ago

• 15 years – 30 years

• 30 years – 50 years

• More than 50 years

• Don’t know

6. Have any of the following activities occurred, or will occur, to manage/maintain the windbreaks, shelterbelts, and/or hedgerows on your land?

Management/Maintenance Activities	YES	NO	DON'T KNOW
Cultivation for weed control (disking, plowing, mowing, etc.)	1	3	2
Herbicide for weed control	1	3	2
Barrier weed control (mulching/fabric)	1	3	2
Flash or short duration grazing within windbreaks	1	3	2
Pruning of tree branches and stems	1	3	2
Replanting trees/windbreak vegetation	1	3	2
Removal of living or dead trees (thinning)	1	3	2
Irrigation of trees	1	3	2
Fertilization and/or soil amendments for the trees	1	3	2
Root pruning	1	3	2
Fencing or tree tubes to protect trees from wildlife/livestock	1	3	2
Prescribed fire
Other management activities - Specify:

7. Have you sold, or do you plan to sell, any of the following from your windbreak, shelterbelt, or hedgerow? Select all that apply.

	Sold in the past 5 years	Plant to sell in the next 5 years	Use for personal use
Firewood
Trees for timber products (lumber, boards, veneer, utility poles, etc.)
Trees for non-timber products (pulp, fence posts, woodchips, etc.)
Forages/hay/fodder for livestock
Edibles (raspberries, walnuts, maple syrup, etc.)
Medicinal plants and herbs (American ginseng, goldenseal, etc.)
Decorative plants and/or materials for landscaping
Other (please specify:

8. In the next five years, will the acreage of trees and shrubs in windbreaks, shelterbelts, and/or hedgerows on your property increase, decrease or stay about the same? Select one.

• Increase: Specify reason(s):___________________

• Decrease: Specify reason(s):___________________

• Stay about the same

• Don’t know

9. Which, if any, of the following benefits have you seen on your land from your windbreaks, shelterbelts, and/or hedgerows?

Conservation Benefits	YES	NO	DON'T KNOW
Improved erosion control	1	3	2
Improved soil health	1	3	2
Habitat for pollinators and other beneficial insects	1	3	2
Wildlife habitat for hunting	1	3	2
Wildlife habitat not for hunting
Improved water quality	1	3	2
Improved nutrient management	1	3	2
Chemical drift mitigation (pesticide, herbicide, fertilizer)	1	3	2
Dust mitigation	1	3	2
Increased carbon storage in soils, trees, and vegetation	1	3	2
Economic Benefits
Increased crop production/yield	1	3	2
Improved crop quality	1	3	2
Income from windbreak trees/shrubs (firewood, timber, nuts, etc.)	1	3	2
Crops/products for on-farm or personal use from windbreak trees/shrubs (firewood, timber, nuts, etc.)	1	3	2
Improved welfare of livestock	1	3	2
Increased livestock production	1	3	2
Snow management	1	3	2
Protection of buildings, home, and other structures	1	3	2
Income diversification from multiple crops/products	1	3	2
Energy conservation	1	3	2
Increased crop water use efficiency and/or irrigation efficiency	1	3	2
Revenue from hunting leases	1	3	2
Reduced spread of tree diseases (canker, citrus greening, etc.)	1	3	2
Improvement of marginal or unfarmable land	1	3	2
Increased land value	1	3	2
Revenue from conservation payments	1	3	2
Improved resilience to weather extremes (drought, flood, etc.)	1	3	2
Other Benefits
Improved working or living environment from less intense wind	1	3	2
Aesthetics/scenic beauty	1	3	2
Privacy/visual screening	1	3	2
Hunting	1	3	2
Recreation (other than hunting)	1	3	2
Odor reduction	1	3	2
Noise reduction	1	3	2
Other benefit(s) - Specify

10. Which, if any, of the following challenges have you experienced when establishing or managing windbreaks, shelterbelts, and/or hedgerows?

Potential Challenges		YES	NO	DON'T KNOW
Lack of information about establishment		1	3	2
Difficulty establishing trees/shrubs		1	3	2
High startup costs		1	3	2
Lack of information on management and maintenance		1	3	2
Difficulty regrowing trees within an established windbreak		1	3	2
Expense of maintenance		1	3	2
Lack of information on recommended tree/shrub species		1	3	2
Lack of knowledge among technical assistance providers		1	3	2
Lack of examples or demonstration sites		1	3	2
Lack of financial assistance		1	3	2
Lack of markets for products from windbreak		1	3	2
Loss of cropland		1	3	2
Harbors harmful crop pests (wildlife, insects, weeds, etc.)		1	3	2
Conflict with farm equipment, practices, or layout		1	3	2
Trees and crops compete for space, light, water, and nutrients		1	3	2
Livestock damage to trees		1	3	2
Wildlife damage to trees		1	3	2
Tree/shrub pests and diseases		1	3	2
Herbicide damaging trees/shrubs		1	3	2
Snow drift issues		1	3	2
Adds labor and complexity to management		1	3	2
Utility right-of-way conflict
Other challenge(s) - Specify:	1122 _________________________________________________________________________

Riparian Forest Buffers

A riparian forest buffer is an area adjacent to a stream, river, lake, or wetland that contains a combination of trees and shrubs and is often used for erosion control, bank stabilization, and nutrient runoff control. They are also called: stream management zones, vegetated buffer strips, woody riparian buffers, and riparian forest corridors.

1. Do you have any land in riparian forest buffers?

• Yes

• No

If no, skip to question XX

2. Please estimate your total land area in riparian forest buffer(s)

_______miles/feet (circle which unit of measurement)

3. Were any of the following activities used to establish riparian forest buffers on your land?

Establishment Activities	YES	NO	DON'T KNOW
Allowed trees and vegetation to grow naturally	1	3	2
Planted buffer trees and vegetation	1	3	2
Used herbicides for weed control/site preparation prior to planting trees	1	3	2
Used cultivation for weed control/site preparation prior to planting trees	1	3	2
Used barrier weed control (mulch, plastic, etc.) to establish trees	1	3	2
Irrigated buffer vegetation during the 1-3 year establishment period	1	3	2
Controlled weeds after planting trees during the 1-3 year establishment period	1	3	2
Installed fencing and/or tree tubes to protect trees/shrubs from wildlife/livestock	1	3	2
Replanted buffer trees or vegetation to fill gaps	1	3	2
Used a cover crop
Other establishment activities - Specify:

4. When were riparian forest buffers established on your land?

Select all that apply

• Less than 5 years ago

• 5 years – less than 10 years ago

• 10 years – less than 15 years ago

• 15 years – 30 years

• 30 years – 50 years

• More than 50 years

• Don’t know

5. In the next five years, will the acreage in riparian forest buffer(s) on your property increase, decrease or stay the same?

Select one.

• Increase: Specify reason(s):___________________

• Decrease: Specify reason(s):___________________

• Stay about the same

• Don’t know

6. Have you sold, do you plan to sell, or have you personally used any of the following crops/products originating from riparian forest buffer trees and shrubs. Select all that apply

please specify whether this operation has:

	Sold in the past 5 years	Plant to sell in the next 5 years	Use for personal use
Firewood
Trees for timber products (lumber, boards, veneer, utility poles, etc.)
Trees for non-timber products (pulp, fence posts, woodchips, etc.)
Edibles (raspberries, walnuts, maple syrup, etc.)
Medicinal plants and herbs (American ginseng, goldenseal, etc.)
Decorative plants and/or materials for landscaping
Other (please specify:

7. Do riparian forest buffers provide any of the following benefits on your land?

Conservation Benefits	YES	NO	DON'T KNOW
Improved erosion control	1	3	2
Improved soil health	1	3	2
Habitat for pollinators and other beneficial insects	1	3	2
Wildlife habitat	1	3	2
Improved water quality	1	3	2
Improved nutrient management	1	3	2
Chemical drift mitigation (pesticide, herbicide, fertilizer)	1	3	2
Dust mitigation	1	3	2
Increased carbon storage in soils, trees, and vegetation	1	3	2
Economic Benefits
Increased crop production/yield	1	3	2
Improved crop quality	1	3	2
Income from windbreak trees/shrubs (firewood, timber, nuts, etc.)	1	3	2
Crops/products for on-farm or personal use from windbreak trees/shrubs (firewood, timber, nuts, etc.)	1	3	2
Improved welfare of livestock	1	3	2
Increased livestock production	1	3	2
Snow management	1	3	2
Protection of buildings, home, and other structures	1	3	2
Income diversification from multiple crops/products	1	3	2
Energy conservation	1	3	2
Increased crop water use efficiency and/or irrigation efficiency	1	3	2
Revenue from hunting leases	1	3	2
Reduced spread of tree diseases (canker, citrus greening, etc.)	1	3	2
Improvement of marginal or unfarmable land	1	3	2
Increased land value	1	3	2
Revenue from conservation payments	1	3	2
Improved resilience to weather extremes (drought, flood, etc.)	1	3	2
Other Benefits
Improved working or living environment from less intense wind	1	3	2
Aesthetics/scenic beauty	1	3	2
Privacy/visual screening	1	3	2
Hunting	1	3	2
Recreation (other than hunting)	1	3	2
Odor reduction	1	3	2
Noise reduction	1	3	2
Other benefit(s) - Specify

8. Which, if any, of the following challenges have you experienced when establishing or managing riparian forest buffers?

Potential Challenges		YES	NO	DON'T KNOW
Lack of information about establishment		1	3	2
Difficulty establishing trees/shrubs		1	3	2
High startup costs		1	3	2
Lack of information on management and maintenance		1	3	2
Difficulty regrowing trees within an established windbreak		1	3	2
Expense of maintenance		1	3	2
Lack of information on recommended tree/shrub species		1	3	2
Lack of knowledge among technical assistance providers		1	3	2
Lack of examples or demonstration sites		1	3	2
Lack of financial assistance		1	3	2
Lack of markets for products from windbreak		1	3	2
Loss of cropland		1	3	2
Harbors harmful crop pests (wildlife, insects, weeds, etc.)		1	3	2
Conflict with farm equipment, practices, or layout		1	3	2
Trees and crops compete for space, light, water, and nutrients		1	3	2
Livestock damage to trees		1	3	2
Wildlife damage to trees		1	3	2
Tree/shrub pests and diseases		1	3	2
Herbicide damaging trees/shrubs		1	3	2
Snow drift issues		1	3	2
Adds labor and complexity to management		1	3	2
Flooding impact
Other challenge(s) - Specify:	1122 _________________________________________________________________________

Forest Farming / Multi-Story Cropping

Multi-Story Cropping/Forest Farming is the deliberate cultivation of crops under a canopy of trees. The canopy is often modified to provide levels of light that favor growth and enhanced production of the understory crops. Crops may include edibles (fruits, vegetables, nuts, mushrooms, etc.) tapping trees for syrup, nursery or landscaping plants, woodland herbal/medicinal plants, and decorative/floral products. A tree farm or plantation is not considered forest farming unless understory crops are intentionally cultivated underneath the canopy of trees.

1. Does this operation have any land in forest farming/multi-story cropping?

• Yes

• No

If no, please skip to question XX

Is the forest farming system on your land managed in any of the following ways? Select yes or no for each item

Yes No

£ £ Managing existing wild plant populations in a wooded environment with the goal of sustainable harvest. Involves minimal site preparation or inputs.

£ £ Deliberately cultivating crops in a natural growing environment. Involves minimal management to expose the soil for planting. Can involve modification of the forest canopy to favor growth.

£ £ Cultivation in rows and/or clusters of a single crop under the forest canopy. May involve tilling, fertilizing, weeding, and controlling disease and posts. Often includes clearing vegetation in the understory and clearing the overstory.

2. How many acres of land do you have in forest farming/multi-story cropping?

______acres

3. Were any of the following activities used to establish the forest farming system on this operation?

Establishment Activities	YES	NO	DON'T KNOW
Cultivation for weed control/site preparation	1	3	2
Used barrier weed control (mulch, plastic, etc.) to establish crops	1	3	2
Used herbicides for weed control/site preparation	1	3	2
Used fertilizer and/or soil amendments prior to or during establishment	1	3	2
Cleared debris (leaf layer, fallen trees, branches, rocks, etc.)	1	3	2
Removed trees (thinning)	1	3	2
Pruned tree branches	1	3	2
Removed competing understory vegetation	1	3	2
Installed irrigation infrastructure	1	3	2
Installed fencing and/or tree tubes to protect trees/shrubs from livestock/wildlife	1	3	2
Other establishment activities - Specify:

3. When were forest farming system(s) established on your land?

Select all that apply

• Less than 5 years ago

• 5 years – less than 10 years ago

• 10 years – less than 15 years ago

• 15 years or more

• Don’t know

5. Have any of the following activities occurred, or will occur, to manage/maintain the forest farming system on this operation?

Management Activities	YES	NO	DON'T KNOW
Cultivation for weed control (pulling, disking, plowing, etc.)	1	3	2
Herbicides for weed control	1	3	2
Barrier weed control (mulching/fabric)	1	3	2
Livestock grazing	1	3	2
Prescribed fire	1	3	2
Irrigation	1	3	2
Fertilization and/or soil amendments	1	3	2
Replanting trees	1	3	2
Replanting understory crops	1	3	2
Pruning of tree branches and stems	1	3	2
Pruning of understory branches and stems	1	3	2
Removal of living or dead trees (thinning)	1	3	2
Removal/clearing of understory vegetation, rocks, and forest debris	1	3	2
Fencing or tree tubes to protect trees/crops from wildlife/livestock	1	3	2
Other management activities- Specify: _________________________________________________________

6. Of the crops/products originating from forest farming systems listed below, please specify whether you:

	Sold in the past 5 years	Plant to sell in the next 5 years	Use for personal use
Firewood
Trees for timber products (lumber, boards, veneer, utility poles, etc.)
Trees for non-timber products (pulp, fence posts, woodchips, etc.)
Edibles (raspberries, walnuts, maple syrup, etc.)
Medicinal plants and herbs (American ginseng, goldenseal, etc.)
Decorative plants and/or materials for landscaping
Haying in an open woodland
Other (please specify:

7. Does forest farming provide any of the following benefits to your land?

Conservation Benefits	YES	NO	DON'T KNOW
Improved erosion control	1	3	2
Improved soil health	1	3	2
Habitat for pollinators and other beneficial insects	1	3	2
Wildlife habitat	1	3	2
Improved water quality	1	3	2
Improved nutrient management	1	3	2
Chemical drift mitigation (pesticide, herbicide, fertilizer)	1	3	2
Dust mitigation	1	3	2
Increased carbon storage in soils, trees, and vegetation	1	3	2
Economic Benefits
Increased crop production/yield	1	3	2
Improved crop quality	1	3	2
Income from windbreak trees/shrubs (firewood, timber, nuts, etc.)	1	3	2
Crops/products for on-farm or personal use from windbreak trees/shrubs (firewood, timber, nuts, etc.)	1	3	2
Improved welfare of livestock	1	3	2
Increased livestock production	1	3	2
Snow management	1	3	2
Protection of buildings, home, and other structures	1	3	2
Income diversification from multiple crops/products	1	3	2
Energy conservation	1	3	2
Increased crop water use efficiency and/or irrigation efficiency	1	3	2
Revenue from hunting leases	1	3	2
Reduced spread of tree diseases (canker, citrus greening, etc.)	1	3	2
Improvement of marginal or unfarmable land	1	3	2
Increased land value	1	3	2
Revenue from conservation payments	1	3	2
Improved resilience to weather extremes (drought, flood, etc.)	1	3	2
Other Benefits
Improved working or living environment from less intense wind	1	3	2
Aesthetics/scenic beauty	1	3	2
Privacy/visual screening	1	3	2
Hunting	1	3	2
Recreation (other than hunting)	1	3	2
Odor reduction	1	3	2
Noise reduction	1	3	2
Other benefit(s) - Specify

8. In the next five years, will the acreage in forest farming or multi-story cropping on your land increase, decrease or stay the same? Check one

Select one.

• Increase: Specify reason(s):___________________

• Decrease: Specify reason(s):___________________

• Stay about the same

• Don’t know

9. Have any of the following been challenges on your land when establishing or managing the forest farming system?

Potential Challenges		YES	NO	DON'T KNOW
Lack of information about establishment		1	3	2
Difficulty establishing trees/shrubs		1	3	2
High startup costs		1	3	2
Lack of information on management and maintenance		1	3	2
Difficulty regrowing trees within an established windbreak		1	3	2
Expense of maintenance		1	3	2
Lack of information on recommended tree/shrub species		1	3	2
Lack of knowledge among technical assistance providers		1	3	2
Lack of examples or demonstration sites		1	3	2
Lack of financial assistance		1	3	2
Lack of markets for products from windbreak		1	3	2
Loss of cropland		1	3	2
Harbors harmful crop pests (wildlife, insects, weeds, etc.)		1	3	2
Conflict with farm equipment, practices, or layout		1	3	2
Trees and crops compete for space, light, water, and nutrients		1	3	2
Livestock damage to trees		1	3	2
Wildlife damage to trees		1	3	2
Tree/shrub pests and diseases		1	3	2
Herbicide damaging trees/shrubs		1	3	2
Snow drift issues		1	3	2
Adds labor and complexity to management		1	3	2
Other challenge(s) - Specify:	1122 _________________________________________________________________________

NWOS Scimod: Carbon

CLIMATE CHANGE

Climate change is a long-term shift in global or regional temperature and weather patterns.

1. Do you think climate change is happening?

• Definitely

• Probably

• Not sure

• Probably not

• Definitely not

If ‘Probably not’ or ‘Definitely not’, skip to question 5

2. Please indicate your level of agreement or disagreement with the following statements about climate change.

	Strongly agree	Agree	Neither agree nor disagree	Disagree	Strongly disagree
I am worried about climate change.
I think climate change is caused by humans.
I think climate change has natural causes.
Increased carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere contributes to climate change.

3. Please indicate your level of agreement or disagreement with the following statements about climate change and wooded land in <STATE>.

	Strongly agree	Agree	Neither agree nor disagree	Disagree	Strongly disagree
Loss of wooded land in <STATE> contributes to climate change.
Wooded lands in <STATE> are at risk from climate change.
Wooded lands in <STATE> will benefit from climate change.
Wooded land in <STATE> can help slow climate change.
My wooded land can help slow or stop climate change.

4. Please indicate your level of interest in making your wooded land adaptive to climate change, so that it will thrive even under future climate conditions doing the following types of practices on some or all or your wooded land in <STATE>:

• Very Interested

• Interested

• Neither interested nor uninterested

• Uninterested

• Very Uninterested

CARBON ABSORPTION AND STORAGE

Trees absorb carbon from the air and use it to make food. This carbon is stored in the tree.

5. Please indicate your level of agreement or disagreement with the following statements about absorbing carbon and your wooded land.

	Strongly agree	Agree	Neither agree nor disagree	Disagree	Strongly disagree
My wooded land absorbs carbon.
It is important to me that my wooded land absorbs carbon.
It is important to me that I leave my wooded land alone so that it can absorb carbon.
It is important to me that I actively manage my wooded land so that it can absorb carbon.
Owners of wooded land have a responsibility to maintain their trees to absorb carbon.

6. Please indicate your level of agreement or disagreement with the following statements about storing carbon and your wooded land.

	Strongly agree	Agree	Neither agree nor disagree	Disagree	Strongly disagree
My wooded land stores carbon.
It is important to me that my wooded land stores carbon.
It is important to me that I leave my wooded land alone so that it can store carbon.
It is important to me that I actively manage my wooded land so that it can store carbon.
Owners of wooded land have a responsibility to maintain their trees to store carbon.

7. Please indicate your level of agreement or disagreement with the following statements about potential payments for carbon absorption and storage.

	Strongly agree	Agree	Neither agree nor disagree	Disagree	Strongly disagree
Owners of wooded land should be compensated for the carbon that their trees absorb and store.
I think my property taxes should be reduced based on the carbon my trees absorb and store.
I would be interested in joining a program that lets me sell credits for the carbon that my trees absorb and store.
I would be interested in cost-share programs that help me do forest management activities to absorb and store more carbon.

8. Please indicate your level of interest in doing the following types of practices on some or all of your wooded land:

	Strongly agree	Agree	Neither agree nor disagree	Disagree	Strongly disagree
Managing my wooded land to maximize the carbon it absorbs and stores.
Letting the forest grow without human intervention to maximize the carbon it absorbs and stores.
Keeping my forest as forest so that it can continue to absorb and store carbon.

NWOS Scimod: Climate Change

Forest activities

1. Which of these listed impacts have you seen occur on your wooded land in [STATE] since you have owned it?

a. Droughts have increased in frequency and/or intensity

• Yes

• No

• I don’t know

b. Floods have increased in frequency and/or intensity

• Yes

• No

• I don’t know

c. Ice storms have increased in frequency and/or intensity

• Yes

• No

• I don’t know

d. Wildfires have increased in frequency and/or intensity

• Yes

• No

• I don’t know

e. Winters are shorter and/or less intense

• Yes

• No

• I don’t know

f. Growing seasons are longer

• Yes

• No

• I don’t know

g. An increase in wind damage

• Yes

• No

• I don’t know

h. An increase in invasive plants

• Yes

• No

• I don’t know

i. An increase in unwanted insects or diseases

• Yes

• No

• I don’t know

Section 1: Climate Change

Climate change, sometimes referred to as global warming, is described as a long-term shift in global and regional weather patterns. Theses shifts result in changes of average temperatures, levels of precipitation, and more intense weather events.

1. Do you think climate change is happening?

• Yes

• No

• Don’t Know

If No, go to Question X

2. What do you think causes climate change?

Select one.

• Caused entirely by human activities

• Caused mostly by human activities

• Caused about equally by human activities and natural changes in the environment

• Caused mostly by natural changes in the environment

• Caused entirely by natural changes in the environment

• None of the above because climate change is not happening

3. a. How worried are you about climate change in the next 50 years?

Select one

• Extremely Worried

• Very Worried

• Somewhat Worried

• A little Worried

• Not at all Worried

• Not at all worried because climate change is not occurring

4. How worried are you about climate change impacting forest/wooded land in [STATE] in the next 50 years?

Select one.

• Extremely Worried

• Very Worried

• Somewhat Worried

• A little Worried

• Not at all Worried

• Not at all worried because climate change is not occurring

5. How worried are you about climate change impacting your wooded land in [STATE] in the next 50 years?

Select one.

• Extremely Worried

• Very Worried

• Somewhat Worried

• A little Worried

• Not at all Worried

• Not at all worried because climate change is not occurring

6. Which of the following statements comes closest to your view towards reducing climate change?

Select one.

• Humans can reduce climate change, and we are going to do so successfully

• Humans could reduce climate change, but it’s unclear at this point whether we will do

what’s needed

• Humans could reduce climate change, but people aren’t willing to change their behavior, so we’re not going to

• Humans can’t reduce climate change, even if it is happening

• Climate change isn’t happening

7. To what level do you agree or disagree with the following statements about climate change potentially impacting your wooded land in [STATE]?

Select one box for each item.

	Strongly Agree	Agree	Neither Agree or disagree	Disagree	Strongly Disagree
Droughts will increase because of climate change
Winter will be shorter because of climate change
Flooding will increase because of climate change
Ice storms will increase because of climate change
Invasive plants will increase because of climate change
The growing season will be longer because of climate change
Unwanted insects or diseases will increase because of climate change
Wildfire will increase because of climate change
Wind damage will increase because of climate change

8. Do you believe that you hold any responsibility in addressing climate change through the management and practices of your wooded land?

• Yes

• No

• Don’t know

Management

9. Does your management plan take climate change and its impacts into account? [To go after the management plan questions on the NWOS short form].

• Yes

• No

10. How do you get information or advice related to your wooded land to manage for climate change? [To go in the information and advice section of NWOS short form].

Select yes or no for each item

Yes No

£ £ Talk to a neighbor
£ £ Talk to an expert
£ £ Have someone visit my land
£ £ Written materials, such as brochures

£ £ Online resources, such as publications or social media

£ £ Conference or workshop

£ £ Relevant organizations
£ £ Other (please specify):
£ £ I don't get/need information or advice

11. A. Have you taken any action to keep your wooded land as wooded land in the foreseeable future?

• Yes

• No

If “No”, skip to Question XX.

If “Yes”,

b. Which of the following have you implemented?

Select yes or no for each item

Yes No

£ £ Conversation with Heir(s) of your land

£ £ Included the desire to keep your land wooded in your will

£ £ Enrolled in a Current Use Program such as [STATE SPECIFIC EXAMPLES]

£ £ Enrolled in a Conservation Easement

£ £ Other (please specify):

The action(s) you selected will be the subject matter for the following questions in this section

12. . a. How important or unimportant are finances for you when considering implementing the action(s) you selected above to keep your wooded land as wooded land?

• Very Important

• Somewhat important

• Neither important nor unimportant

• Somewhat unimportant

• Very unimportant

1. How important or unimportant is the potential or capacity for the land to stay wooded when implementing the action(s) you selected above?

• Very Important

• Somewhat important

• Neither important nor unimportant

• Somewhat unimportant

• Very unimportant

2. How important or unimportant is the knowledge of how to implement the necessary actions you selected above to keep your wooded land as wooded?

• Very Important

• Somewhat important

• Neither important nor unimportant

• Somewhat unimportant

• Very unimportant

3. How important or unimportant is your own ability to carry out the action(s) you selected above to keep your wooded land as wooded.

• Very Important

• Somewhat important

• Neither important nor unimportant

• Somewhat unimportant

• Very unimportant

13. Do you believe the action of keeping wooded land as wooded land as a practice to reduce future climate change impacts?

• Yes

• No

• Unsure

If “No” or “Unsure”, go to Question XX.

If “Yes”,

14. Do you believe that keeping your wooded land as wooded land will help to mitigate climate change impacts?

• Yes

• No

Increasing Tree Diversity

23. Have you taken any action(s) to increase the diversity of the trees on your wooded land?

• Yes

• No

If Yes,

Which of the following have you carried out?

Select yes or no for each item

Yes No

£ £ Increased the amount of tree species on your wooded land

£ £ Increased the number of age cohorts on your wooded land

£ £ Other (please specify):____________________________

24. How important or unimportant is each listed factor for you when considering implementing actions to increase the diversity of the tree species on your wooded land in [STATE]?

a. Finances

• Very Important

• Somewhat important

• Neither important nor unimportant

• Somewhat unimportant

• Very unimportant

b. The potential or capacity for the land to increase in tree species diversity

• Very Important

• Somewhat important

• Neither important nor unimportant

• Somewhat unimportant

• Very unimportant

c. Knowledge of how to implement the necessary actions

• Very Important

• Somewhat important

• Neither important nor unimportant

• Somewhat unimportant

• Very unimportant

d. Your own ability to carry out the action(s).

• Very Important

• Somewhat important

• Neither important nor unimportant

• Somewhat unimportant

• Very unimportant

26. Do you believe the action of increasing the diversity of tree species on your wooded land in [STATE] is a viable way for forests and wooded land to adapt to future climate change impacts?

• Yes

• No

• I don’t know

27. Have you taken any action(s) to increase the age diversity of the trees on your wooded land?

• Yes

• No

If No, skip to question XX

If Yes, please answer question XX

28. How important or unimportant is each listed factor for you when considering implementing actions to increase the age diversity of trees on your wooded land in [STATE]?

a. Finances

• Very Important

• Somewhat important

• Neither important nor unimportant

• Somewhat unimportant

• Very unimportant

c. The knowledge of how to implement the action(s)

• Very Important

• Somewhat important

• Neither important nor unimportant

• Somewhat unimportant

• Very unimportant

d. Your own ability to carry out the action(s).

• Very Important

• Somewhat important

• Neither important nor unimportant

• Somewhat unimportant

• Very unimportant

29. Do you believe the action of increasing the age diversity of trees is a viable way for wooded land to adapt to future climate change impacts?

• Yes

• No

• I don’t know

If No or I don’t know, please skip to question XX

If Yes, please answer question XX

30. Do you believe the action of increasing the age diversity of the trees on your wooded land in [STATE] is a viable way for forests and wooded land to adapt to future climate change impacts?

• Yes

• No

• I don’t know

Demographics

34. Where would you place yourself on these political spectrums?

1. Fiscally:

• Liberal Democrat

• Conservative/Moderate Democrat

• Independent

• Liberal/Moderate

• Republican

• Conservative Republican

2. Socially:

• Liberal Democrat

• Conservative/Moderate Democrat

• Independent

• Liberal/Moderate

• Republican

• Conservative Republican

NWOS Scimod: Cross-boundary Cooperation

Neighbors are private landowners like you who own property adjacent to or near your property.

Community is defined as a particular area or place considered together with its inhabitants.

Cooperation is defined as the process of working together to the same end.

1. How far is your closest neighbor from your wooded land in [STATE]? Please consider a road or trail based distance.

• <5 miles

• 5-20 miles

• 21-50  miles

• 51-100 miles

• >100 miles

2. How far is your furthest neighbor from your wooded land in [State]

• <5 miles

• 5-20 miles

• 21-50 miles

• 51-100 miles

• >100 miles

3. Think about your community: how many other woodland owners do you consider a ‘neighbor’ in the following categories:

_______Neighbors in adjacent properties (e.g., our property boundaries touch)

_______Neighbors accessible by road or trail, in my community

4. A. Is your wooded land in [STATE] also your primary residence?

• Yes

• No 

2. Please select all that apply

• It is my second or seasonal home

• It is my vacation home

• It is my rental unit

• Other

2. How many minutes is your primary residence from your wooded land in [STATE]?

• Its on my wooded land

• 30 minutes

• 1-2 hours

• 2-5 hours

• 5+hours

2. If your primary residence is not on your wooded land in [STATE], do you plan to make this your primary residence in the future?

• Yes

• No

• Don’t Know

• Not Applicable
  
  
  

5. To what extent do you feel that your activities on your wooded land in [STATE] affect your neighbor’s land?

• Greatly

• Moderately

• Somewhat

• Slightly

• Not at all

6. To what extent do you feel that your neighbor’s activities on their wooded land affect your wooded land in [STATE]?

• Greatly

• Moderately

• Somewhat

• Slightly

• Not at all

7. For these questions, ‘neighbor’ includes both adjacent properties and anyone you feel is in your community. About how many neighbors do you know by name?

• All of them

• Most of them

• About half

• A few of them

• None of them
  
  

8. Below are some questions about the government’s role in land management. Please tell us how much you agree or disagree with the following statements.

	Strongly agree	Agree	Neither agree nor disagree	Disagree	Strongly disagree	NA
Private property rights should be limited if necessary to protect the environment
The government should have the right to regulate how people use their land in order to protect water quality
The government should have the right to regulate how people use their land in order to protect threatened and endangered species
The government should have the right to regulate how people use their land in order to maintain healthy forests
Government agencies do more harm to the land than they do good
The government has a responsibility to protect natural resources
Government regulation results in a loss of essential liberties and freedoms
Government regulation is bringing the country closer to socialism
Land use should continue to be regulated in ___[STATE]__________
The government has the right to regulate resource management on private land if it pays compensation
Citizens should be able to use natural resources on their own land without asking government permission
The government does a good job of consulting citizens before making natural resource regulations
Government employees don’t know or understand my lands as well as I do
There should be no government control over private lands

9. Below are some statements about land stewardship and cooperation. Please tell us how much you agree, or disagree, with the following statements.

   	Strongly agree	Agree	Neither agree nor disagree	Disagree	Strongly disagree	NA
   I feel an obligation to future generations to be a good steward of my land
   We as society owe it to the environment to be good stewards of the land as a landowner, I have a responsibility to protect wildlife habitat and biodiversity
   I wish my neighbors would enjoy my land more
   I would allow my neighbors to build a trail across my land if I could control the type of recreation that occurs on it
   The fewer people on my land the better
   I find it therapeutic or enjoyable doing things to improve my wooded land
   I feel great satisfaction when I do things to improve my wooded land
   I would like to spend more time enjoying my land
   I welcome more development in my town
   Housing development in my area will decrease the sense of community
   It will take an organized effort among community members to protect wooded land from development
   I view development as a threat to things I value
   I know my neighbors’ objectives for their wooded land
   I feel that my neighbors’ objectives for their wooded land are compatible with my own
   I feel a sense of community with the wooded land in my neighborhood
   I do not agree with the way my neighbors use their wooded land
   I would not cooperate because I have too many other commitments in my life
   I would not cooperate because I do not know many of my neighbors
   I would not cooperate because I am satisfied with the way things are
   I would not cooperate because I do not see any benefits from cooperation with my neighbors
   Cooperation with my neighbors could infringe on my privacy
   Cooperation would be too time consuming
   I would like to get to know my neighbors better

10. How often, if at all, do you consider the ecological health of neighboring or nearby properties when making decisions concerning your wooded land.

• Often

• Sometimes

• Occasionally

• Never

11. How often, if at all, have your neighbors or owners of nearby properties spoken to you about their woodland management decisions?

• Often

• Sometimes

• Occasionally

• Never

12. How often, if at all, do you visit neighboring lands for the following reasons?[1 = never, 4=often]

	Often	Sometimes	Occasionally	Never
I visit for recreation
A social visit
I visit to hunt or fish
I visit to borrow or exchange something
I visit for small task assistance
I visit for other reasons (please explain)

13. How interested, or uninterested, are you in the following activities on your wooded land in [STATE]?

	Very interested	Interested	Neither interested nor uninterested	Uninterested	Very uninterested	NA
Hiring a forester to market timber from your property jointly with one or more neighbors
Developing a shared trail system across multiple ownerships
Working with a neighbor to jointly market your properties for development
Attending a series of meetings on woodland management with your neighbors
Joining your neighbors for a walking tour of your properties
Talking with your neighbors about managing wildlife habitat together
Sharing the fee for hiring a forester to write a management plan with your neighbors
Sharing forest management equipment with neighbors to manage woodlands
Asking your neighbors to join a group to lease hunting and recreation access to your shared properties
Working with neighbors to write a conservation easement agreement to protect more than one ownership from development
Working with neighbors to monitor, prevent, or remove invasive species

14. Which of the following have occurred on your wooded land in [STATE] in the past 5 years?

Select yes or no for each item

Yes No

£ £ Hired a forester to market timber from your property jointly with one or more neighbors

£ £ Developed a shared trail system across multiple ownerships

£ £ Worked with a neighbor to jointly market your properties for development

£ £ Attended a series of meetings on woodland management with your neighbors

£ £ Joined your neighbors for a walking tour of your properties

£ £ Talked with your neighbors about managing wildlife habitat together

£ £ Shared the fee for hiring a forester to write a management plan with your neighbors

£ £ Shared forest management equipment with neighbors to manage woodlands

£ £ Asked your neighbors to join a group to lease hunting and recreation access to your shared properties

£ £ Worked with neighbors to write a conservation easement agreement to protect more than one ownership from development

£ £ Worked with neighbors to monitor, prevent, or remove invasive species

£ £ Management activities across boundaries to reduce fire risk

15. Which of the following are likely to occur on your wooded land in [STATE] in the next 5 years?

Select yes or no for each item

Yes No

£ £ Hire a forester to market timber from your property jointly with one or more neighbors

£ £ Develop a shared trail system across multiple ownerships

£ £ Work with a neighbor to jointly market your properties for development

£ £ Attend a series of meetings on woodland management with your neighbors

£ £ Join your neighbors for a walking tour of your properties

£ £ Talk with your neighbors about managing wildlife habitat together

£ £ Share the fee for hiring a forester to write a management plan with your neighbors

£ £ Share forest management equipment with neighbors to manage woodlands

£ £ Ask your neighbors to join a group to lease hunting and recreation access to your shared properties

£ £ Work with neighbors to write a conservation easement agreement to protect more than one ownership from development

£ £ Work with neighbors to monitor, prevent, or remove invasive species

£ £ Management activities across boundaries to reduce fire risk

16. The next question asks about your interest in cooperating with others to accomplish mutually beneficial goals. Neighbors are private landowners like you who own property adjacent to or near your property. Local groups can include local land trusts, lake associations, and others. NGOs are non-governmental organizations that can include Pheasants Forever, Wild Turkey Federation, The Nature Conservancy, and others. County agencies can include conservation and planning departments, county forests, and others. State agencies can include state forests, state parks, and others. Federal agencies can include national forests, wildlife refuges, and others. If you are not interested in the goal, please select “not interested” and move down to the next goal. 

Please indicate by selecting all that apply who you would consider jointly planning land management activities in order to: [options – neighbors, local groups, NGOs, County, State, Federal]

	Neighbors	Local groups	NGOs	County State	Federal	Not interested in the goal
Enhance habitat for game species
Enhance habitat for non-game species
Enhance habitat for rare or threatened species
Reduce fire risk
Protect or improve water quality Prevent or control invasive species
Enhance non-motorized recreation opportunities
Enhance motorized recreation opportunities

17. Please write below any specific organizations you would be most willing to plan activities with. 

_____________________

18. Please write below any specific organizations you would be least willing to plan activities with. 

_________________

NWOS Scimod: Decision Making

1. In addition to you, who is legally part of your woodland ownership in <STATE>?

Select yes or no for each item

Yes No

£ £ My spouse

£ £ My children

£ £ My parents

£ £ Another family member

£ £ Business partner

£ £ Other (please specify): ________

£ £ No one (single-owner ownership)

If you are the sole owner of your wooded land, please skip to question 7.

If you are not the sole owner, please continue to question 2.

2. What is the age of the oldest owner of your wooded land?

______years

3. What is the age of the youngest owner of your wooded land?

______years

4. How many, if any, of the owners have a home (primary residence) on or within a mile of your wooded land in [STATE]?

______owners

5. How many, if any, of the owners use your wooded land as a secondary residence or vacation home?

______owners

6. How often do at least some of the owners have discussions about your wooded land in the past 5 years?

• Monthly or more frequently

• A few times a year

• Annually

• Every few years

• Never

• Don’t know

7. How many generations of your family are involved in making decisions for your wooded land? Please include owners and non-owners.

________ generations

8. Have you and your fellow owners, if any, considered whether or not to cut or remove trees for sale on your wooded land in <STATE> in the past 5 years?

• Yes

• No

• Don’t know

If No or Don’t know, skip to question 9.

If Yes, please answer a.

1. For the most recent time it was considered, what was the outcome?

• Trees were cut or removed for sale

• Trees were NOT cut or removed for sale

• No decision was made

2. How many owners were involved in making the decision about whether or not to cut or remove trees for sale?

• One of the owners

• Two of the owners

• Some of the owners

• All of the owners

• This is a single-owner ownership

3. Who, if anyone, besides you and the other owner(s), participated in or influenced (e.g., provided information or advice) this decision?

Select yes or no for each item

Yes No

£ £ Other family members who aren’t owners

£ £ Friends

£ £ Neighbors

£ £ Other woodland owners

£ £ Private forestry consultant

£ £ State or local natural resource agency professional

£ £ University extension professional

£ £ Legal advisor

£ £ Financial advisor

£ £ Business partner

£ £ Other (please specify):________________

£ £ No one outside of the ownership participated in this decision

4. How difficult was it for the ownership to reach a decision on whether or not to cut or remove trees for sale?

Extremely Moderately Somewhat Slightly Not at all Don’t

Difficult Difficult Difficult Difficult Difficult know

__ __ __ __ __ __

9. If a decision was to be made to sell part or all of the wooded land you own in <STATE>:

1. How many owners would likely be involved in making this decision?

• One of the owners

• Some of the owners

• All of the owners

• This is a single-owner ownership

2. Who, if anyone, besides you and the other owner(s), would likely participate in or influence (e.g., provide information or advice) this decision?

Select yes or no for each item

Yes No

£ £ Other family members who aren’t owners

£ £ Friends

£ £ Neighbors

£ £ Other woodland owners

£ £ Private forestry consultant

£ £ State or local natural resource agency

£ £ University extension professional

£ £ Legal advisor

£ £ Financial advisor

£ £ Business partner

£ £ Other (please specify):________________

£ £ No one outside of the ownership would participate in this decision

3. How difficult do you think it would be for the ownership to reach a decision on whether or not to sell part or all of the wooded land?

Extremely Moderately Somewhat Slightly Not at all Don’t

Difficult Difficult Difficult Difficult Difficult know

__ __ __ __ __ __

10. Which, if any, of the following items have you had to make a decision about in the past 5 years? Select yes or no for each item

Yes No

£ £ Hiring a forester

£ £ Collected nontimber forest products, such as berries or mushrooms

£ £ Reduced fire hazard

£ £ Controlled burn/prescribed fire

£ £ Eliminated or reduced invasive plants

£ £ Eliminated or reduced unwanted insects or diseases

£ £ Road construction or maintenance

£ £ Trail construction or maintenance

£ £ Improved wildlife habitat

£ £ Livestock grazing

£ £ Planting trees

NWOS Scimod: Energy

[Energy] will be filled in with the geographically appropriate energy type: solar, wind, or fracking

1. In the last 5 years, were you approached by a [ENERGY] company about renting, selling or leasing your land in [STATE]?

• Yes

• No

• I don’t know

2. Have you ever rented, sold or leased your land in [STATE] to companies for [ENERGY]?

• Yes ® if yes, please answer question 3

• No ® if no skip to question 16

• I don’t know ® if no skip to question 16

3. When was it? ______________YEAR

4. What was the land in [STATE] used for prior to this?

Select yes or no for each item

Yes No

£ £ Grazing

£ £ Row crops

£ £ Farm lands

£ £ Timberlands ready to be cut based on management plan

£ £ Wooded land not used for timber

£ £ Brown field

£ £ Nothing

£ £ Other (please specify):__________________

5. What caused you to take this action on your land in [STATE]?

Select yes or no for each item

Yes No

£ £ Money

£ £ Land not being used

£ £ Concerned about use of fossil fuels/climate change

£ £ Tax credit available due to green energy

£ £ Other (please specify):____________________

6. Before you took action, did you consider the impact of [ENERGY] on any of the following on your land in [STATE]:

Select yes or no for each item

Yes No

£ £ Wildlife

£ £ Environmental impacts such as, carbon sequestration or runoff

£ £ Beauty

£ £ Community/neighbor opinion

£ £ Other (please specify): ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­___________________

7. Were you recruited or approached by a company or did you reach out on your own?

• I/we were recruited/approached

• I/we initiated

• My business partner initiated

• I reached out on my own

• Other (please specify): ­­____________________

8. How many acres did you develop on your land in [STATE]?

• Less than 1 acre

• 1-10 acres

• 10-20 acres

• 20-30 acres

• 30-40 acres

• 50 + acres

9. When you were beginning the search for a [ENERGY] company or were approached by a company on your land in [STATE], were you more or less likely to choose a company that was local?

• I chose a company that was local and known to me

• I chose a company that was local but I hadn’t known about prior to my experience with them

• I chose a company based solely on what they offered me

• I chose the first company that contacted me or I reached out to

• Other (please specify):______________________

10. When you were in the process of installing [ENERGY] on your land in [STATE], did you receive any advice?

• Yes ® If yes, please answer question a

• No ® If no, please skip to question 11

1. Where did you get the advice from?

Select yes or no for each item

Yes No

£ £ I received advice from a university extension program

£ £ I received advice from my local land trust

£ £ I received advice from local, state or federal government

£ £ I received advice from a neighbor or friend

£ £ I researched it myself in the library or internet

£ £ Other (please specify): ­_______________________

11. When you were working with the [ENERGY} company, were you able to negotiate the price of rental/lease/sale of the land?

• Yes

• No

• I don’t know

12. Is your [ENERGY} installment visible to the public?

• Yes ® if yes, please answer question a

• No ® if no, please skip to question 13

1. From where is your installment visible from?

Select yes or no for each item

Yes No

£ £ People can see it from the road

£ £ People can see if from the nearby hills

£ £ People can see it when they use the hiking trail

£ £ People can only see it in winter/early spring

£ £ Other (please specify): ___________________

13. Were there any adverse health impacts or environmental impacts as a result of this project on your land in [STATE]?

• Yes ® if yes, please answer question Error! Reference source not found.

• No ® if no, please skip to question 15Error! Reference source not found.

1. What were the health impacts?

14. Were there any adverse environmental impacts as a result of this project on your land in [STATE]?

• Yes ® if yes, please answer question Error! Reference source not found.

• No ® if no, please skip to question 15Error! Reference source not found.

1. What were the environmental impacts?

___________________________________________

15. What conditions, if any, were associated with the terms of your rental/lease/sale of the land?

Select yes or no for each item

Yes No

£ £ I asked them to plant pollinator habitat under the panels

£ £ I asked them to restore the land damaged during the installation

£ £ I asked them to install wildlife friendly fencing so that small animals could access/use the land

£ £ I asked them to agree to specific mowing schedule so that there would be reduced harm to species using the area

£ £ I asked them to replant with native species

£ £ I asked them to restore/replant the land when the terms of the lease expired

£ £ There were no conditions

£ £ I don’t know

16. Would you be willing to rent or lease your wooded land in [STATE] for any of the following uses?

Select yes or no for each item

Yes No

£ £ Wind energy

£ £ Natural gas extraction

£ £ Cell towers

£ £ Right of way to electrical

£ £ Mining

£ £ Hunting or grazing

17. Would you be willing to sell your wooded land in [STATE] for any of the following uses?

Select yes or no for each item

Yes No

£ £ Wind energy

£ £ Natural gas extraction

£ £ Cell towers

£ £ Right of way to electrical

£ £ Mining

£ £ Hunting or grazing

18. If approached, would you be willing to lease your wooded land in [STATE] to a renewable energy company?

• Yes ® if yes, please answer question a and b

• No ® if no, please skip to question X

• I have never heard of this before ® please skip to question X

1. How much money per acre would they need to offer for you to take action?

__________$

2. Before you take action, would you consider the impact of [ENERGY] on any of the following on your wooded land in [STATE]:

Select yes or no for each item

Yes No

£ £ Wildlife

£ £ Environmental impacts such as, carbon sequestration or runoff

£ £ Beauty

£ £ Community/neighbor opinion

£ £ Other (please specify): ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­___________________

19. Are you a member, or are you interested in becoming a member, of any of the following organizations?

Select yes or no for each item

Yes No

£ £ Local conservation group

£ £ National/state conservation group

£ £ Local land trust

£ £ Agricultural landowner group

£ £ Woodland owner group

£ £ A hunting group

£ £ Religious group

£ £ Other (please specify):_______________

20. How concerned are you about the following when considering [ENERGY] on your wooded land in [STATE]?

	Great concern	Concern	Moderate concern	Of little concern	No Concern	NA
Climate change
Soil compaction
Run off
Carbon sequestration
Deforestation
Loss of Wildlife habitat
Loss of scenic beauty
Concern over local environment
Concern over wildlife
Concern over vegetation
Concern over clearcutting/development of land
Concern of what your neighbors or community would think
Concern over decreased beauty of land
The money would not be worth it to me
Other (please specify): ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­____________________

21. If you have considered [ENERGY] for your wooded land in [STATE] but haven’t done it yet, what is keeping you from moving forward?

Select yes or no for each item

Yes No

£ £ Price isn’t high enough

£ £ I have read about the impacts of [ENERGY} and I decided it was too harmful on the wildlife in my area

£ £ I have read about the impacts of [ENERGY} and I decided it was too harmful to the local environment

£ £ I think my neighbors/community would be upset by this action

£ £ I don’t think the benefit of [ENERGY} energy outweighs the cost to carbon sequestration and climate change

£ £ I am waiting until the timber on my land is at the right size before I harvest to install [ENERGY}

£ £ I don’t feel I have enough information

£ £ I think the aesthetic beauty of my land will be impacted

£ £ I have not considered [ENGERY]

£ £ Other (please specify):________________________

NWOS Scimod: Energy 2

[Energy] will be filled in with the geographically appropriate energy type: solar, wind, or fracking

22. Have you ever rented, sold or leased your wooded land in [STATE] to companies for [ENERGY]?

• Yes

• No

• I don’t know

23. How familiar are you with the possibility of renting/leasing/selling your wooded land in [STATE] to a [ENERGY] company?

• Very familiar

• Moderately familiar

• Somewhat familiar

• A little familiar

• Not at all familiar

2. Would you be willing to rent or lease your wooded land in [STATE] for any of the following uses?

Select yes or no for each item

Yes No

£ £ Wind energy

£ £ Natural gas extraction

£ £ Cell towers

£ £ Right of way to electrical

£ £ Mining

£ £ Hunting or grazing

3. Would you be willing to sell your wooded land in [STATE] for any of the following uses?

Select yes or no for each item

Yes No

£ £ Wind energy

£ £ Natural gas extraction

£ £ Cell towers

£ £ Right of way to electrical

£ £ Mining

£ £ Hunting or grazing

4. If approached, would you be willing to lease your wooded land in [STATE] to a renewable energy company?

• Yes ® if yes, please answer question 18.a and c

• No ® if no, please skip to question X

• I have never heard of this before ® please skip to question X

1. How much money per acre would they need to offer for you to take action?

__________$

2. Before you take action, would you consider the impact of [ENERGY] on any of the following on your wooded land in [STATE]:

Select yes or no for each item

Yes No

£ £ Wildlife

£ £ Environmental impacts such as, carbon sequestration or runoff

£ £ Beauty

£ £ Community/neighbor opinion

£ £ Other (please specify): ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­___________________

5. Are you a member, or are you interested in becoming a member, of any of the following organizations?

Select yes or no for each item

Yes No

£ £ Local conservation group

£ £ National/state conservation group

£ £ Local land trust

£ £ Agricultural landowner group

£ £ Woodland owner group

£ £ A hunting group

£ £ Religious group

£ £ Other (please specify):_______________

6. How concerned are you about the following when considering [ENERGY] on your wooded land in [STATE]?

	Great concern	Concern	Moderate concern	Of little concern	No Concern	NA
Climate change
Soil compaction
Run off
Carbon sequestration
Deforestation
Loss of Wildlife habitat
Loss of scenic beauty
Concern over local environment
Concern over wildlife
Concern over vegetation
Concern over clearcutting/development of land
Concern of what your neighbors or community would think
Concern over decreased beauty of land
The money would not be worth it to me
Other (please specify): ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­____________________

7. If you have considered [ENERGY] for your wooded land in [STATE] but haven’t done it yet, what is keeping you from moving forward?

Select yes or no for each item.

Yes No

£ £ Price isn’t high enough

£ £ I have read about the impacts of [ENERGY] and I decided it was too harmful on the wildlife in my area

£ £ I have read about the impacts of [ENERGY] and I decided it was too harmful to the local environment

£ £ I think my neighbors/community would be upset by this action

£ £ I don’t think the benefit of [ENERGY] energy outweighs the cost to carbon sequestration and climate change

£ £ I am waiting until the timber on my land is at the right size before I harvest to install [ENERGY]

£ £ I don’t feel I have enough information

£ £ I think the aesthetic beauty of my land will be impacted

£ £ I have not considered [ENGERY]

£ £ Other (please specify):________________________

NWOS Scimod: Heirs Property

1. Do you know how to contact all of the co-owners of your wooded land?

• Yes

• No

• Not applicable, I am the sole owner

2. Do you and your co-owners have discussions or meetings to make plans for the upkeep and the future of the land?

• Yes

• No

• Not applicable, I am the sole owner

3. Do you see your wooded land as an asset?

• Yes

• No

4. How is the payment of property taxes divided amongst yourself and your co-owners?

• Everyone pays their share

• There are some who do not pay

• I don’t know

• Not applicable, I am the sole owner

5. Does the number of co-owners who have an interest in the wooded land affect your plans for your involvement with the wooded land?

• Yes

• No

• Not applicable, I am the sole owner

6. Have you worked with any of the following professionals regarding your wooded land?

Select yes or no for each item

Yes No

£ £ Surveyors

£ £ Family Mediators

£ £ Lawyers

£ £ Foresters

£ £ Other (please specify): ________________

7. If you have a forester, do you trust their decisions and forest management actions?

• Yes

• No

• Not applicable

8. Do you trust the government to assist forest landowners?

• Yes

• No

• I don’t know

9. Are you member of a forestry network? (A network of peers to talk through the forestry management process and refer foresters, contractors, surveyors, or lawyers)

• Yes

• No

• I don’t know

10. Do you have a will?

• Yes

• No

• I don’t know

11. Do any of your co-owners of this heirs’ property wooded land have a will?

• Yes

• No

• I don’t know

12. How useful would information on how to obtain a clear title to your wooded land be for you or your co-owners?

• Extremely useful

• Very useful

• Moderately useful

• Slightly useful

• Not at all useful

13. Is any of your wooded land currently held/been held in the past as an heirs’ property? Heirs’ property is family-owned land that is equally owned by all descendants of a family member that did not have a written will to clear the title of the land upon their death. If your land has been passed down by an ancestor to all descendants without a will

• I currently own wooded land that is held as an heirs’ property -> go to question ____

• My land is not held as an heirs’ property -> go to next section

• I don’t know -> go to next section

14. How does heirs’ property ownership affect your decisions or decision-making about your wooded land?

• It is hard to come to an agreement on how to care on how to care for property and whether to conduct timber harvests

• I am unable to get a timber deed

• Property taxes are difficult to divide amongst all the co-owners

• It prevents me from qualifying for landowner assistance programs

• I am unable to sell my wooded land

• It is difficult to find a logger willing to work with my wooded land because it is “heirs’ property”

• I am not affected by the heirs’ property status of my wooded land

• Other (please specify): ________________

• Not applicable, I am the sole owner

15. What, if any, barriers or difficulties do you have in trying to resolve your heirs’ property ownership?

• Identifying and contacting all co-owners for the wooded land

• Not knowing how to clear the title of the wooded land

• Not having the financial resources to resolve the heirs’ property

• Some/all of the co-owners are not interested in resolving

• Can’t find a lawyer knowledgeable or interested in resolving heirs’ property

• Can’t find a lawyer to trust to resolve heirs’ property

• Myself and co-owners have not tried to resolve our heir’s property and have no interest in it

• Other (please specify): ________________

• Not applicable, my wooded land is not held under an heirs’ property

16. If you were to resolve your heirs’ property ownership structure, which steps are you likely to take? Select yes or no for each item

Yes No

£ £ Identify all other co-owners

£ £ Have an attorney conduct a title search on the property

£ £ Take steps to obtain a clear title

£ £ Create a succession plan for ownership of wooded land

£ £ Talk with a lawyer or organization for help to resolve heirs’ property

£ £ Write a will for myself and encourage

£ £ Encourage other co-owners to write a will

£ £ Talk to a forester or logger about the wooded land

£ £ Talk to a surveyor about a partition sale

£ £ Divide the property among heirs

£ £ Create a trust or LLC, or single entity organization to hold the property

£ £ Other (please specify): ___________________

£ £ Not applicable, my wooded land is not held under an heirs’ property

17. How important is it to you that you resolve the heirs’ property ownership situation for your wooded land?

• Very important

• Important

• Neutral

• Unimportant

• Very unimportant

NWOS Scimod: Invasive Plants

Invasive plants are introduced on purpose or accidentally by people outside their natural habitats that cause harm (ecological or economic).

1. Please indicate the level of familiarity you have with the concept of invasive plants.

Extremely Moderately Somewhat Slightly Not at all

Familiar Familiar Familiar Familiar Familiar

__ __ __ __ __

1. Have you noticed invasive plants on your wooded land in <STATE>?

Select only one.

• Yes, invasive plants are all over my wooded land

• Yes, invasive plants are here and there on my wooded land

• No, there are no invasive plants on my wooded land

• I don’t know

3. How concerned are you about invasive plants on your wooded land in <STATE>? Select only one.

Great Moderate Of little No Not

Concern Concern Concern Concern Concern Applicable

__ __ __ __ __ __

1. Are there invasive plants on your wooded land in [STATE] that benfit you?

• Yes

• No

• I don’t know

5. Please indicate your level of agreement with the following statements about your wooded land in <STATE>. [Strongly agree, Agree, Neither agree nor disagree, Disagree, Strongly Disagree]

	Strongly agree	Agree	Neither agree nor disagree	Disagree	Strongly disagree
I want to remove invasive plants from my wooded land
I am confident I can remove invasive plants from my wooded land myself
I need assistance removing invasive plants from my wooded land

6. Please indicate the level of concern you have about invasive plants on neighboring land or land near your property in your county.

• Great concern

• Concern

• Moderate concern

• Of little concern

• No concern

• Not applicable

7. To what extent have you noticed invasive plants on neighboring land or land near your property in your area?

Select only one.

• Invasive plants are common

• Invasive plants are on most of the wooded land near my property

• Invasive plants are on some of the wooded land near my property

• No invasive plants are on the wooded land near my property.

• I have noticed invasive plants on the wooded land near my property but don’t know how many invasive plants there are.

• I don’t know if there are invasive plants on the wooded land near my property.

8. Which of the following have you done in the past five years?

Select Yes or No for each item

Yes No

£ £ Inspected my wooded land for invasive plants

£ £ Pulled or cut invasive plants on my wooded land

£ £ Applied herbicides to kill invasive plants on my wooded land

£ £ Used controlled burn/prescribed fire to kill invasive plants on my wooded land

£ £ Searched for information about invasive plants on the internet

£ £ Participated in workshops or information sessions about invasive plants

£ £ Worked together with my neighbors to remove invasive plants

£ £ Participated in a county, state or federal program that assists landowners in removing invasive plants

£ £ Talked to my family about invasive plants

£ £ Talked to my neighbors about invasive plants

£ £ Talked to other landowners who are not my neighbor about invasive plants

£ £ Contacted a natural resources professional about invasive plants on my wooded land

£ £ Restored my wooded land after removing invasive species

£ £ Other (please specify): __________

1. a. Do you want information or advice about invasive plants on your wooded land in [STATE]?

• Yes

• No

If yes, please answer part b

If no, please skip to question X

2. How, if at all, do you plan to get information or advice about invasive plants in the next 5 years? Select Yes or No for each item

Yes No

£ £ Contact a natural resource professional about invasive plants

£ £ Search for information about invasive plants on the internet

£ £ Participate in workshops or information sessions about invasive plants

£ £ Talk to my family about invasive plants

£ £ Talk to my neighboring landowners about invasive plants

£ £ Talk to other landowners who are not my neighbor about invasive plants

£ £ Other (please specify): __________

£ £ No plans to get information or advice

1. How interested are you in preventing invasive plants from establishing on your wooded land in <STATE>?

• Very interested

• Moderately interested

• Somewhat interested

• Slightly interested

• Not at all interested

• Not applicable

1. How interested are you in removing invasive plants from your wooded land in <STATE>?

• Very interested

• Moderately interested

• Somewhat interested

• Slightly interested

• Not at all interested

• Not applicable

NWOS Scimod: Land transfer

1. When planning the future of your wooded land, there may be several goals you are trying to achieve. From the list below, please select which of the goals are important or very important to you.

Select yes or no for each item

Yes No

£ £ That my wooded land provides financial security for myself.

£ £ That my wooded land provides financial security for my family/heirs.

£ £ That my wooded land becomes an inheritance to family/heirs.

£ £ To treat my family/heirs fairly.

£ £ To ensure that future owners have the full range of options to use the wooded land as they wish.

£ £ That my wooded land protects the environment and wildlife.

£ £ That my wooded land benefits my community.

£ £ Other (please specify):__________________

2. In order to meet my goals for my wooded land in <STATE>, I have done the following:

Select yes or no for each item

Yes No

£ £ Spoke to my spouse/family/kids about the future of the land

£ £ Included the future ownership of my wooded land in my will

£ £ Included the future ownership of my wooded land in my trust

£ £ Included the future ownership of my wooded land in my LLC

£ £ Joined a program that defers, reduces, or eliminates property taxes for wooded land.

£ £ Place a conservation easement on the land

£ £ Made arrangements to donate/sell the wooded land to a public or private conservation organization

£ £ Other:________________________________________________

3. If you are interested in designating how your land should be used in the future there are a number of ways that you can do so. Which of the following statements best describes how you want to designate the future use of your land? Please select one

• I don’t want to designate the future use of my land

• I want the next owner(s) to know my wishes, but to give them the option of doing what they feel is best

• I want to designate the future use of the land, but allow the next owner(s) to remove these restrictions if they pay a penalty

• I want to designate the use of my land for 30 years after which the next owner(s) can do what they want

• I want to designate the use of my land for up to 99 years after which the future owner(s) can do what they want

• I want to designate the future use of my land forever

• I have not decided

4. Which of the following statements best describes what you want to happen regarding subdividing your wooded land (dividing your property into smaller ownerships)? Please select one

• I would like it to remain intact as a single property

• I would like to keep most of it together as one property

• Subdividing the property in any way is fine with me

• I would like the next owner to decide what happens

• I have not decided what I want to happen

5. Which of the following statements best describes what you want to happen regarding the future residential or commercial development of your wooded land? Please select one

• Don’t allow any new development on any amount of the wooded land

• Allow new development on less than 25% of the wooded land

• Allow new development on 25% to 50% of the wooded land

• Allow new development on more than 50% of the wooded land

• I don’t have any specific development goals

• Other (please specify):___________________________________________

6. Which of the following best describes the difficulties you may have faced or are facing regarding making plans for the future of your wooded land?

Select yes or no for each item

Yes No

£ £ Cost of planning process

£ £ Difficult to discuss

£ £ Difficulty defining my goals

£ £ Don’t know where to start

£ £ Fairness to heirs

£ £ Family issues

£ £ Lack of trusted professionals

£ £ Lack of time

£ £ Need information

£ £ Not ready to act

£ £ Too complicated

7. Do you have children?

• Yes

• No

8. Do you have grandchildren?

• Yes

• No

9. Who is involved in deciding the future ownership and use of your wooded land?

Select yes or no for each item

Yes No

£ £ Me

£ £ My husband or wife

£ £ My children

£ £ My parents

£ £ Another family member

£ £ My business partner

£ £ My land manager or forester

£ £ Other (please specify):

10. How many people are involved in deciding the future ownership and use of this land? Include yourself, other legal owners, and other individuals, but don’t include professionals.

Number of decision makers for future ownership and use

11. Do you know how many people you will designate as the future owners of your land?

Future Owners

• Yes: How many?

• No

• I don’t know

• I don’t plan to designate the future owners of my land

12. Who will you likely choose as the future owner(s) of your land?

Select yes or no for each item

Yes No

£ £ Child/children

£ £ Grandchild/Grandchildren

£ £ Other family

£ £ Someone I know (not in my family)

£ £ Best offer from the open market

£ £ Conservation organization

£ £ My community

£ £ It does not matter to me

£ £ I have not decided

£ £ I will not be making this choice

13. What is your understanding of what your heirs will do with the wooded land?

• Own or co-own the wooded land as one property

• Divide the wooded land among themselves into separate ownerships

• Sell the wooded land and divide the money

• Do whatever they want. It’s their decision.

• I don’t know

• My heirs will not inherit the wooded land

• Other(please specify): _____________________

NWOS Scimod: Landowner Values

1. How much, if at all, do you enjoy the beauty that your wooded land in <STATE> provides?

• Greatly enjoy

• Moderately enjoy

• Somewhat enjoy

• Slightly enjoy

• Do not enjoy

• I do not know

2. How much, if at all, do you enjoy the peace and quiet that your wooded land in <STATE> provides?

• Greatly enjoy

• Moderately enjoy

• Somewhat enjoy

• Slightly enjoy

• Do not enjoy

• I do not know

3. How much, if at all, do you enjoy that your wooded land in <STATE> provides and/or may provide learning opportunities?

• Greatly enjoy

• Moderately enjoy

• Somewhat enjoy

• Slightly enjoy

• Do not enjoy

• I do not know

4. How much, if at all, do you enjoy that your wooded land in <STATE> provides nature benefits, such as habitat for plants and animals, carbon storage, and clean air and clean water?

• Greatly enjoy

• Moderately enjoy

• Somewhat enjoy

• Slightly enjoy

• Do not enjoy

• I do not know

5. How much, if at all, do you enjoy that your wooded land in <STATE> just exists, regardless of any benefits that people may receive from it?

• Greatly enjoy

• Moderately enjoy

• Somewhat enjoy

• Slightly enjoy

• Do not enjoy

• I do not know

6. How much, if at all, do you enjoy that your wooded land in <STATE> could provide benefits or opportunities to you in the future, regardless of whether or not you enjoy those benefits now?

• Greatly enjoy

• Moderately enjoy

• Somewhat enjoy

• Slightly enjoy

• Do not enjoy

• I do not know

7. How much, if at all, do you enjoy knowing that your wooded land in <STATE> is currently providing benefits to other people (besides yourself).

• Greatly enjoy

• Moderately enjoy

• Somewhat enjoy

• Slightly enjoy

• Do not enjoy

• I do not know

8. How much, if at all, do you enjoy knowing that your wooded land in <STATE> could provide benefits to other people (besides yourself) in the future.

• Greatly enjoy

• Moderately enjoy

• Somewhat enjoy

• Slightly enjoy

• Do not enjoy

• I do not know

NWOS Scimod: Rapid Assessment of a Significant Event

NOTE: These questions will be asked following a major event (e.g., hurricane, wildfire, flood, drought, pandemic, recession). Specific event will be substituted here [EVENT].

1. To what extent, if any, has the following been damaged by the recent [EVENT]?

	Extremely damaged	Moderately damaged	Somewhat damaged	Slightly damaged	Not at all damaged	Not applicable
Home
Buildings, other than home
Road
Trails
Vehicle(s)
Trees near your home
Trees on the wooded part of your land
Other (please specify):

2. Please indicate which of the following activities, if any, you’ve done in the past 5 years for the primary purpose of reducing risk of damage from a possible [EVENT] to the wooded portion of your land in the [STATE]?

Select yes or no for each item

Yes No

£ £ Brush/debris (fuel) removal

£ £ Invasive plant(s) removal

£ £ Invasive animal(s) removal

£ £ Erosion control practices

£ £ Flood control practices

£ £ Tree trimming or pruning

£ £ [Event] specific management practices

£ £ Other (please specify):

3. Please indicate which of the following activities, if any, you plan on doing in the near future in response to the recent [EVENT] on the wooded portion of your land in the [STATE]?

Select yes or no for each item

Yes No

£ £ Brush/debris (fuel) removal

£ £ Cut and/or removed trees for sale

£ £ Cut and/or removed trees for own use

£ £ Controlled burn/prescribed fire

£ £ Road maintenance

£ £ Trail maintenance

£ £ Plant [event] resistant trees

£ £ [Event] specific recovery practices

£ £ Other (please specify):

4. Have you received any information or advice about preparing your wooded land for [EVENT] in the past five years?

• Yes If yes, please answer b, c, d

• No If no, please skip to question 6

b. Did you implement any of the advice on your wooded land?

• Yes

• No

3. What was it about?

Select yes or no for each item

Yes No

£ £ [Event] specific management practices

£ £ [Event] specific recovery

£ £ Other (please specify):

5. Did [EVENT] change the management activities you were planning to do on your wooded land?

• No, I did the management activities I was planning to do.

• Yes, I did less management activity than I was planning to do,

• Yes, I did different management activity than I was planning to do.

• Yes, I did more management activity than I was planning.

6. Please describe how [event] has impacted your wooded land below.

______________________________________________________

NWOS Scimod: Sense of Place

Place identity

1. Please indicate your level of agreement with the following statements.

	Strongly agree	Agree	Neither agree nor disagree	Disagree	Strongly disagree
I feel my woods are a part of me
I identify strongly with my woods
Being a woodland owner says a lot about who I am.
I feel no commitment to my woods

Affective attachment

2. Please indicate your level of agreement with the following statements.

	Strongly agree	Agree	Neither agree nor disagree	Disagree	Strongly disagree
My woods mean a lot to me
I am very attached to my woods
I feel a strong sense of belonging to my woods
I have little, if any, emotional attachment to my woods

Place dependence

3. Please indicate your level of agreement with the following statements.

	Strongly agree	Agree	Neither agree nor disagree	Disagree	Strongly disagree
I enjoy being in my woods more than being in other outdoor places
I get more satisfaction out of visiting my woods than visiting other outdoor places
The activities I do in my woods are more important than the activities I do in any other outdoor place
I wouldn't substitute any other outdoor place for the activities I do in my woods

Social bonding

4. Please indicate your level of agreement with the following statements.

	Strongly agree	Agree	Neither agree nor disagree	Disagree	Strongly disagree	Not Applicable
I have a lot of fond memories about my woods
I have a special connection to my woods because of the time I spend in them with friends/family
I don't tell many people about my woods
I will (do) bring my children and/or grandchildren to my woods
If I were to stop visiting my woods, I would lose contact with a number of my friends or family

NWOS Scimod: Timber

1. a. Have you ever received an unsolicited offer for a commercial timber harvest from your wooded land?

• Yes

• No

If yes, answer b and c

If no, please skip to question 2.

b. Select yes or no for each item

Yes No

£ £ The offer was for a one-time harvest.

£ £ The offer was for a long-term harvest agreement.

£ £ I do not know the details of the offer.

£ £ After receiving the offer, I sought out additional offers

3. How did you respond to the offer?

Select yes or no for each item

Yes No

£ £ I rejected or ignored the offer or offers to harvest timber.

£ £ I received one offer and accepted the offer.

£ £ I received multiple offers and accepted the highest offer.

£ £ I received multiple offers and accepted an offer that was not the highest.

2. a. Did you ever actively seek out offers for commercial timber harvesting on your wooded land?

• Yes

• No

If yes, answer b and c.

If no, answer d.

b. Select yes or no for each item.

Yes No

£ £ I was seeking an offer for a one-time harvest.

£ £ I was seeking an offer for a long-term harvest agreement.

£ £ I do not know the type of offer I was seeking.

c. What was the result of seeking out an offer or offers?

• I could not find or obtain an offer.

• I obtained and rejected an offer or offers.

• I obtained one offer and accepted it.

• I obtained multiple offers and accepted the highest offer.

• I obtained multiple offers and accepted an offer that was not the highest.

3. Select yes or no for each item.

Yes No

£ £ I do not want to harvest timber.

£ £ Harvesting timber on my wooded land is not possible.

£ £ I plan to seek out offers to harvest timber in the future.

3. What percentage of your wooded acres have you considered commercially harvesting at any one time? Please write a number between 0 and 100:
   
   

Percent (if zero, skip)

a. How important were the following reasons for deciding to harvest timber on a portion of your wooded land? (Matrix of Very important, Important, Moderately important, Of little importance, Not important, Not applicable)

	Very important	Important	Moderately important	Of little importance	Not important	Not applicable
The dollar value of the offer for my timber
Seeing reported timber prices go up
The trees were mature
Needing the money to pay bills
Using the money to invest in other opportunities
Using the money for college expenses or retirement funds
Using the money to buy personal items
Using the money for a sudden need that arose
Following a management plan
Following the requirements of a program
Meeting environmental goals
Clearing land for uses other than wooded land
Availability of professional loggers
Advice from an expert
Advice from family, a friend, or neighbor
Other (please specify):

4. What percentage of your wooded land would you never consider harvesting?
   
   

Percent

1. How important are the following as reasons for why you would never consider harvesting a portion of your wooded land? (Matrix of Very important, Important, Moderately important, Of little importance, Not important, Not applicable)

	Very important	Important	Moderately important	Of little importance	Not important	Not applicable
Lack of roads
Too steep
Too close to water
Trees are too young
Affects beauty or scenery
Legal restriction/easement
Affects nature or biological diversity
Affects privacy
Affects the land passed on to my children or other heirs
Affect nontimber forest products, such as berries or mushrooms
Affects hunting
Affects neighbors
Other (please specify):

5. What is the percentage of hardwood or softwood on your wooded land in terms of area? Oak or maple are examples of hardwood. Pine or fir are examples of softwood. Sum to 100%

• Percent hardwood

• Percent softwood

• Don’t know.

6. How often, if ever, do you seek out information about the market value or price of timber?

• At least monthly: ___ times monthly

• A few times per year: ___ times per year

• Yearly

• Every few years: Every ____ years

• Rarely

• Never

• I do not seek this information myself, but a forester or other adviser informs me.
  
  

7. a. Do you consider a portion of your wooded land a pine plantation?

• No

• Yes

2. For the portion that is pine plantation, how many years after planting would you consider:
   Thinning: _______ years

Final harvest or clearcutting: _______ years

8. Which, if any, of the following have occurred on your wooded land in [STATE] in the past 5 years?

Select yes or no for each item

Yes No

£ £ Agroforestry, including livestock grazing

£ £ Used herbicides

£ £ Used insecticides

£ £ Used fertilizers

£ £ Other (please specify):

9. Which, if any, of the following silvicultural practices have occurred on your company’s forestland in the U.S. in the past 5 years?

Select yes or no for each item

Yes No

£ £ Clearcut

£ £ Seed tree cuts

£ £ Shelterwood cuts

£ £ Single tree selection

£ £ Group selection

£ £ Pre-commercial thinnings (e.g. stand improvements)

£ £ Commercial thinnings

£ £ Planting trees

NWOS Scimod: Well Being

The following 6 questions will focus on how you feel about yourself and your life, using a response scale from 0 to 10. Zero means you “disagree completely” and 10 means you “agree completely¹.”

	Disagree completely										Agree Completely
	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
In general, I feel very positive about myself.	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
I’m always optimistic about my future.	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
I am free to decide for myself how to live my life.	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
I generally feel that what I do in my life is worthwhile.	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
Most days I get a sense of accomplishment from what I do.	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
When things go wrong in my life it generally takes me a long time to get back to normal	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10

The next set of 3 questions focus on a list of ways you might have felt during the past week. On a scale from 0 to 10, where zero means you felt that way “not at all” during the past week and 10 means you felt that way “all of the time”, please indicate how much of the time yesterday that:

	Not at all										All the time
	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
How much of the time yesterday did you have a lot of energy	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
How much of the time yesterday did you feel calm	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
How much of the time yesterday did you feel lonley	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10

Questions Related to time in Your Woods:

10. Did you spend any time in your woods during the past year?

• Yes

• No

If No, skip to question 12.

11. Please indicate how often you participated in each the following types of activities over the past year when you spent time in your woods on a scale from zero to three. Zero means Never, One means Rarely (Once or twice a year), Two means Occasionally (Once or twice a month), and Three means Frequently (Once or twice a week).

	Never	Rarely (once or twice a year)	Occasionally (Once or twice a month)	Frequently (Once or twice a week)
Working my land, doing chores on my wooded land (for example clearing paths or removing invasive plants
Recreational activities (for example hiking or wildlife watching

12) How many days in the past week did you spend at least one hour in your woods?

_____ days

13) During the past week, how much time, if any, did you spend thinking about your woods when you weren’t in them?

• Multiple times a day

• Every day

• Once or twice during the week

• Never

Questions Related to Recreation:

14) a. Have you recreated on your wooded land in the last week?

• Yes

• No

If No, skip to question 15.

If Yes, please answer b.

b. select all of the ways in which you recreated:

Yes No

£ £ Hunting

£ £ Fishing

£ £ Hiking/walking

£ £ Bicycling

£ £ Kayaking

£ £ Horseback riding

£ £ Skiing or snowshoeing

£ £ Off-road vehicles, such as ATVs or snowmobiles

£ £ Other (please specify):

Questions Related to Perceptions as a Woodland Steward

15) Please indicate your level of agreement with the following statements.

	Strongly agree	Agree	Neither agree nor disagree	Disagree	Strongly disagree
I am a steward of my wooded land.
In the past 6 months, I have undertaken activities to improve or care for my wooded land.
By owning wooded land, I am a steward of my land regardless of whether I undertake any activities to improve my land.
Being a woodland owner gives me a sense of identity.
Owning and caring for my wooded land provides an outlet for me to use my talents and skills.
Spending time in my woods makes me feel good mentally.
Spending time in my woods makes me feel good physically.
I feel better in general after spending time in my woods.
Owning woods sometimes negatively impacts my physical or mental health, through stress or physical injury.

NWOS Scimod: Wildfire

Wildfire is an unplanned fire that starts in forestland, woodland, or rangeland. It can be started by lightning or by people, either accidentally or intentionally.

Prescribed fire is a burn set by professionals on forestland, woodland, or rangeland under strict guidelines. One reason to use prescribed fire is to prevent build-ups of flammable woody materials that could cause intense wildfires.

1. Please indicate which of the following you have experienced in the past 5 years:

Select Yes or No for each item.

YES NO

£ £ Wildfire burned on my land

£ £ Wildfire burned on my neighbor’s land

£ £ I have witnessed a wildfire near my land

£ £ I have had structures on my land damaged or lost because of a wildfire

£ £ Smoke from a wildfire has made me physically uncomfortable or affected my health, or the health of someone in my household.

£ £ Smoke from a wildfire has inconvenienced me (for example, diminished scenery or caused outdoor plans to be cancelled)

2. Wildfires can cross property lines. In order to address this problem, some woodland owners will communicate or coordinate efforts with the owners of nearby properties in order to reduce wildfire risk in their area. This can involve working with fellow private property owners or with public land managers. Which, if any, of the following have you done in the past 5 years? Select Select Yes or No for each item.

YES NO

£ £ Talked to nearby private property owners about how to reduce wildfire risk

£ £ Worked with nearby private property owners to reduce wildfire risk (for example, pooled resources to purchase equipment or hire professionals, or had neighborhood work parties)

£ £ Talked with public land managers about how to reduce wildfire risk on your property

£ £ Worked with public land managers to reduce wildfire risk on your property (for example, performed recommended activities or allowed a controlled burn on your property)

3. Please indicate your level of concern about each of the following events occurring in the next 5 years on or near your wooded land in [STATE]:

If you own one property, select one box for each item. If you own more than one property in [STATE], consider them all and select one or more boxes for each item.

	Great concern	Concern	Moderate concern	Of little concern	No concern	Not Applicable
Wildfire occurring on my wooded land.
Wildfire occurring on lands near my property.
Smoke from wildfires occurring on lands near my property.
Wildfire damaging my home or other structures on my property.
Loss of saleable timber due to wildfire on my property.
Loss of beauty or scenery due to wildfire on my property.
Loss of lives
Loss of crops/livestock

4. Please indicate which of the following activities you’ve done in the past 5 years for the primary purpose of reducing wildfire risk on your wooded land in <STATE>.

Select Yes or No for each item.

YES NO

£ £ Conducted prescribed burns

£ £ Created or maintained fuel breaks

£ £ Limbed up trees

£ £ Planted fire-resistant trees

£ £ Purchased fire insurance for the wooded portion of my land

£ £ Removed woody debris that was on the ground

£ £ Thinned trees

£ £ Used mechanized or hand equipment to control undergrowth

£ £ Other (please specify):__________

£ £ I have performed no activities specifically to reduce the risk of wildfire on my property

1. Did you do any of the above activities to also protect your home?

• Yes

• No

• I did none of the above activities

• I don’t have a home on my wooded land

2. If you did any of the above activities to reduce the risk of wildfire on your property, what, if anything, did you do with leftover woody material?

Select Yes or No for each item.

YES NO

£ £ Burned in piles

£ £ Kept for personal use (e.g., firewood, construction)

£ £ Mulched and spread across woods

£ £ Sold as biomass or pulp

£ £ Sold as a timber product

£ £ Took to landfill or transfer station

£ £ Other (please specify):____________

£ £ Piled, but not burned

£ £ Nothing, left it where it fell

£ £ There was no leftover woody material

£ £ I have performed no activities specifically to reduce the risk of wildfire on my property

3. On what percentage of your wooded land have you taken actions to reduce the risk of wildfire?

• 0%

• 1-24%

• 25-49%

• 50-74%

• 75-100%

5. In some areas, owners of wooded land have formed groups to provide information and support to help one another.

1. How familiar are you with this concept?

• Extremely familiar

• Moderately familiar

• Somewhat familiar

• Slightly familiar

• Not at all familiar

1. If a woodland owner organization existed in your area, how likely would you be to join?

• Extremely likely

• Likely

• Undecided

• Unlikely

• Extremely unlikely

• Not applicable

Additional Scimod Questions

Additional Scimod Questions: Well Being

1. How much do you agree or disagree with the following statements about your physical health? Select one box for each item.  

	Strongly agree	Agree	Neutral	Disagree	Strongly disagree	Not applicable
Spending time in my woods improves my physical health
Spending time in my woods is good for my health
I spend time in my woods to improve my health
Spending time in my woods makes me feel healthy(ier)
Spending time in my woods makes me feel good physically

2. How much do you agree or disagree with the following statements about your mental health? Select one box for each item.  

	Strongly agree	Agree	Neutral	Disagree	Strongly disagree	Not applicable
Spending time in my woods makes me feel calm(er)
Spending time in my woods calms my body or mind
Spending time in my woods allows me to clear my mind
Spending time in my woods makes me feel good mentally
Spending time in my woods makes me feel good emotionally
Spending time in my woods makes me feel happy
I feel happy after spending time in my woods
Spending time in my woods makes me feel that I am better able to handle stress in my life
Spending time in my woods helps me deal with stress
Spending time in my woods makes me feel less stressed
Spending time in my woods improves my mood
Spending time in my woods improves my mental well-being
Spending time in my woods helps me deal with negative emotions such as anger
Spending time in my woods makes me feel more positive
Spending time in my woods makes me feel less anxious
Spending time in my woods relaxes me
Spending time in my woods provides mental
I’m able to forget about my worries when I spend time in my woods
Spending time in my woods makes me better able to
Spending time in my woods improves my ability to focus
Spending time in my woods improves my quality of life
Spending time in my woods improves my mental health
Spending time in my woods recharges me

3. How much do you agree or disagree with the following statements about the health benefits of your wooded land in [STATE]? Select one box for each item.  

	Strongly agree	Agree	Neutral	Disagree	Strongly disagree	Not applicable
I value the health benefits that spending time in my woods provides
Time spent in my woods is a form of medicine for my body or mind
Time spent in my woods is a form of therapy for my body or mind
Spending time in my woods has physical healing effects
Spending time in my woods has mental healing effects
My woods provides health benefits to me
My woods provides healing benefits to me
I allow other people to access my woods land in order to enjoy its health benefits

4. How much do you agree or disagree with the following statements about activities you undertake to gain health benefits on your wooded land in [STATE]? Select one box for each item.  

	Strongly agree	Agree	Neutral	Disagree	Strongly disagree	Not applicable
Being physically active in my woods contributes to my health.
Owning woods land provides me an opportunity to be physically active
I gather non-timber woods products or plants from my woods that I use as medicine
I undertake activities on my wooded land to reduce human health threats (i.e., remove poison ivy)

5. I undertake the following activities in my woods to improve my health.

Select yes or no for each item

Yes No

£ £ Walking

£ £ Sitting

£ £ Meditating

£ £ Listening to the woods sounds

£ £ Watching wildlife

£ £ Deep breathing exercises

£ £ Yoga

£ £ Resting

£ £ Chopping wood

£ £ Pulling invasive plants

6. How much do you agree or disagree with the following statements about the negative impacts associated with spending time on your wooded land in [STATE]? Select one box for each item.  

	Strongly agree	Agree	Neutral	Disagree	Strongly disagree	Not applicable
Spending time in my woods causes health problems for me
I avoid spending time in my woods because of the negative health impacts that it has for me (e.g., seasonal allergies, rashes from poisonous plants, exposure to ticks, chiggers, stinging insects)
I avoid spending time in my woods during certain times of the year because of the negative health impacts that it has for me (e.g., seasonal allergies, rashes from poisonous plants, exposure to ticks, chiggers, stinging insects)
Spending time in my woods creates stress for me
Spending time in my woods makes me fearful

7. How much do you agree or disagree with the following statements about the negative health and well-being effects associated with woodland ownership? Select one box for each item.  

	Strongly agree	Agree	Neutral	Disagree	Strongly disagree	Not applicable
Being a woodland owner negatively affects my health
The threat of wildland fire to my wooded land creates is a source of unhappiness for me
The threat of invasive species on my wooded land is a source of stress for me
Not being certain how to care for my wooded land is a source of stress for me
Not being certain what will happen to my wooded land in the future when I no longer own it is a source of stress for me

8. How much do you agree or disagree with the following statements about the health and well-being benefits associated with woodland ownership? Select one box for each item.  

	Strongly agree	Agree	Neutral	Disagree	Strongly disagree	Not applicable
Knowing that I am taking care of my wooded land makes me happy
Knowing that my wooded land is an asset makes me happy

9. The following question asks how satisfied you feel, on a scale from 0 to 10. Zero means you feel “not at all satisfied” and 10 means you feel “completely satisfied”.

	Not at all satisfied										Completely satisfied
Overall, how satisfied are you with life as a whole these days?	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
Overall, to what extent do you feel the things you do in your life are worthwhile?	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
How satisfied are you with the quality of your local environment?	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10

Additional Scimod Questions: Land Transfer

1. When planning the future of your wooded land, there may be several goals you are trying to achieve. Please rate the importance of each of the following goals when planning the future of your land Select one box for each item.

	Extremely important	Very important	Moderately important	Slightly important	Not at all important
My wooded land provides financial security for myself
My wooded land provides financial security for my family/heirs
My wooded land becomes an inheritance to family/heirs
To treat my family/heirs fairly
To ensure that future owners have the full range of options to use the wooded land as they wish
That my wooded land protects the environment and wildlife
That my wooded land benefits my community

2. Who is legally part of this ownership?

Select yes or no for each item

Yes No

£ £ Me

£ £ My spouse

£ £ Another family member(s)

£ £ Friend

£ £ Business partner

£ £ Other (specify): ___________

2. As of today, how many different generations in your family are involved in deciding the future ownership and use of this land (this may include people who aren’t legal owners)?

• 1 Generation

• 2 Generations

• 3 Generations

• 4 Generations

2. How important, if at all, is it to you to designate who will own your land next?

• Not at all important

• Slightly important

• Moderately important

• Very important

• Extremely important

2. How important, if at all, is it to you to designate how your land should be used in the future after you no longer own it?

• Not at all important

• Slightly important

• Moderately important

• Very important

• Extremely important

2. Which best describes your future plans regarding a will and your wooded land?

Please select one

• I am satisfied with my will – no changes are needed

• I have a will and plan to update it to address my land

• I don’t have a will but plan to create one that includes my land

• I don’t plan to have a will that includes my land

• I don’t know

2. Which best describes your future plan regarding a trust and your land?

Please select one

• I am satisfied with my trust – no changes are needed

• I plan to update my trust to address my land

• In the future, I plan to create a trust that includes my land

• I don’t plan to create a trust that includes my land

• I don’t know

Which best describes your future plan regarding a conservation easement/restriction? Select yes, no, or don’t know for each item

Yes No Don’t know

£ £ £ I am satisfied with my conservation easement/restriction

£ £ £ I plan on changing my existing conservation easement/restriction

£ £ £ I plan to place a conservation easement/restriction on my land

£ £ £ I don’t plan to place a conservation easement/restriction on my land

2. Which best describes your future plan regarding enrollment in current use property tax programs? Please select one

• I plan to continue enrollment in the current use tax program

• I plan to join a current use tax program

• I don’t plan to join a current use tax program

• I plan to drop out of the current use tax program

• I don’t know

2. Which statement best describes when you will take action to reach your goals for the future of your land, such as creating a will or trust, placing a conservation easement/restriction on the land or joining a current use tax program? Please select one

• I'm satisfied with what I've done, I don't plan on doing any more

• I plan to take action in the next 5 years

• I plan to take action in the next 10 years

• I plan to take action in the next 20 years

• I don’t know

2. What is your retirement status?

• I retired more than 5 years ago

• I retired less than 5 years ago

• I will retire in 5 years

• I will retire in more than 5 years

• I don’t know when I will retire

• Not applicable

Additional Scimod Questions: Carbon

Now we would like to ask you about how you might want to use your woodland in the future.

Trees on wooded land absorb carbon and store it in their tree trunks, branches, leaves, and roots. Some people believe that carbon absorption and storage can help reduce the effects of climate change. As a landowner, you could become involved by enrolling in a program that would pay you to ensure that your trees absorbed more carbon than if you had left them as-is.

Suppose that you were approached about joining such a program:

Enrollment responsibilities:

• A professional forester must inventory your enrolled woodland.

• Every year the forester must verify that you are complying with the program.

• If you plan to harvest timber from your enrolled woodland, the harvested area needs to be re-inventoried after cutting.

• For the time that you are enrolled, no new development (such as creation or sale of building lots) would be allowed to happen.

We would like to know your interest in joining these types of programs. The next page gives you other aspects of the program to consider.

1. How likely or unlikely are you to enroll in the following program?

[Example program parameters]:

Payment per acre: $10/acre/year

Upfront costs: $0

Term of agreement: 30 years

Early withdrawal penalty: None

• Extremely likely

• Likely

• Somewhat likely

• Unlikely

• Extremely unlikely

2. How likely or unlikely are you to enroll in the following program?

[Example program parameters]:

Payment per acre: $20/acre/year

Harvest restrictions: no harvesting allowed

Cost-share offered: no cost-share offered

Term of agreement: 10 years

• Extremely likely

• Likely

• Somewhat likely

• Unlikely

• Extremely unlikely

Program attributes to include in additional program questions.

• Payment per acre ($0 - $200)

• Upfront costs (fixed or per acre)

• The term of the agreement (1 year – permanent)

• Early withdrawal penalty (no penalty, percentage of earnings, flat fee)

• Type of payment (guaranteed or market-based)

• Amount or method of information given (in-person visit, phone conversation, personal email, brochure only)

• Harvest restrictions (no restrictions, limited harvesting, no harvesting)

• Framing (carbon or forest health)

• Initial signing payment per acre ($0-$200)

• If cost-share is offered (0% cost-share – 90% cost-share)

• Program administration (public or private entity)

• Method of payment (tax incentive or direct payment)

3. How important are each of the following conditions to your interest in participating in a carbon program?

Select yes or no for each item

Yes No

£ £ I want examples of other landowners who have participated

£ £ I want to know the carbon would be/not be sold to a company to offset their emissions

£ £ I want to know that I am helping/ how much additional carbon I helped remove from the air

£ £ I want to know how the carbon is measured

£ £ I want to know how additional carbon is calculated

£ £ I want to know where my carbon credits are going

£ £ I want the process to be simpler

£ £ I want to know who is representing who

£ £ I want to know how people are getting paid

£ £ I want to know how this fits with my other options

£ £ I want to know the alternative options

£ £ I want to know if I have to choose one program

4. While practices, if any, would you be interested in participating in?

Select yes or no for each item

Yes No

£ £ Increasing rotation length

£ £ Retention trees

£ £ Continuous-cover forestry

£ £ Increased stand density

£ £ Buffer zones around important habitats or conservation areas

£ £ Deadwood retention

£ £ Changing composition to future-adapted or broad-leaved species

£ £ Fertilization

Additional Scimod Questions: Heirs Property

1. Do you know how to contact all of the co-owners of your wooded land?

• Yes

• No

• Not applicable, I am the sole owner

2. In the past year, how many discussions/meetings about the upkeep and future of your wooded land have you and your co-owners had? (would go after question 1, no skip pattern needed)

• 0

• 1-2

• 3-5

• 6-9

• 10 or more

3. Is there a co-owner that manages the payment of the property taxes for your wooded land?

• Yes

• No

• Not applicable, I am the sole owner

4. Do you have access to a free or low-cost forester?

• Yes

• No

• I don’t know

5. Do you trust the government?

• Yes

• No

6. Do you have access to aid (money, a lawyer, other) in writing a will?

• Yes

• No

• I don’t know

7. A partition sale is when jointly owned land is sold, often forcibly, and the proceeds are divided proportionally among the co-owners according to how much of the land they have a share in. How familiar, or unfamiliar, are you with partition sales?

• Extremely familiar

• Moderately familiar

• Somewhat familiar

• Slightly familiar

• Not at all familiar

8. Have you been involved in a partition sale?

• Yes

• No

• I don’t know

9. How satisfied or dissatisfied were you with the partition sale process?

• Very Satisfied

• Satisfied

• Neutral

• Dissatisfied

• Very Dissatisfied

10. Which of the following would you prefer to do with your heirs’ property wooded land in [STATE]? Select one.

• Clear the title and divide up the wooded land

• Clear the title and sell the wooded land

• Clear the title and keep it as undivided land

• Keep it as an heirs’ property

• Other (please specify): ____________________

11. Is disagreement among co-owners getting in the way of resolving your heirs’ property ownership?

• Yes

• No

• I don’t know

12. What, if anything, has motivated you to try and resolve your heirs’ property ownership in [STATE]?

Select yes or no for each item

Yes No

£ £ I have recently learned my wooded land is held in an heirs’ property ownership and wish to resolve it

£ £ There is currently a significant threat towards my ownership and use

£ £ I have a financial need

£ £ I have not tried to resolve my heirs’ property ownership

£ £ Other (please specify): ________________________

13. How important is it to you and your co-owners that you find a free (or reduced fee) legal aid organization to help resolve your heirs’ property in [STATE]?

• Very Important

• Important

• Neutral

• Unimportant

• Very Unimportant

14. How important would assistance be in identifying a person/organization/lawyer that could help you resolve the heirs’ property ownership situation for your wooded land?

• Very Important

• Important

• Neutral

• Unimportant

• Very Unimportant

15. What information or assistance do you need to resolve your heirs’ property ownership situation?

Select yes or no for each item

Yes No

£ £ Legal assistance

£ £ Information on obtaining a clear title

£ £ Family Mediation Assistance

£ £ Information on a genealogy search

£ £ I’m not sure

£ £ I do not need information or assistance

£ £ Other (please specify): _____________

16. If you are able to resolve the heirs’ property ownership in the future, what would you do with your wooded land?

Select yes or no for each item

Yes No

£ £ I am likely to keep my share of the wooded land

£ £ I am likely to sell my share of the wooded land

£ £ I am likely to actively manage my share of the wooded land

£ £ I don’t think we will likely resolve the heirs’ property

£ £ Other (please specify): ______________

1 Note: Questions 1-9 are from the OECD (2013) guidelines doc. This bank of questions focuses on eliciting eudaimonic notions of well-being. See box B4 on page 260. http://dx.doi.org/10.1787/9789264191655-en