Title:

Characterizing community forests in the United States: Survey data on ownership, objectives, and other key characteristics from 2020 to 2023

Author(s):

Hajjar, Reem; McGinley, Kathleen; Charnley, Susan; Frey, Gregory E.; Hovis, Meredith; Cubbage, Frederick W.; Schelhas, John; Kornhauser, Kailey

Publication Year:

2025

How to Cite:

These data were collected using funding from the U.S. Government and can be used without additional permissions or fees. If you use these data in a publication, presentation, or other research product please use the following citation:

Hajjar, Reem; McGinley, Kathleen; Charnley, Susan; Frey, Gregory E.; Hovis, Meredith; Cubbage, Frederick W.; Schelhas, John; Kornhauser, Kailey. 2025. Characterizing community forests in the United States: Survey data on ownership, objectives, and other key characteristics from 2020 to 2023. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2025-0022

Abstract:

This data publication contains quantitative and qualitative data on 98 community forests in the United States, including data on their location, size, ownership, governance, management objectives, and benefits. These data were collected through a 2020-2023 online survey designed to inventory and catalog community forests in the United States. The 98 community forests in this database span private, public, and tribal lands, demonstrate varied governance approaches and strategies, and are managed for a range of forest goods and services. Recreation and environmental services were identified as the most important management goals and timber production occurred on more than two-thirds of the forests in the database.

Keywords:

biota; boundaries; economy; environment; society; Environment and People; Community development; Decision making, public involvement; Natural Resource Management & Use; Conservation; Ecosystem services; Forest management; Timber; participatory governance; environmental services; community benefits; local development; timber management; United States; Puerto Rico

Related publications:

• Hajjar, Reem; McGinley, Kathleen; Charnley, Susan; Frey, Gregory E.; Hovis, Meredith; Cubbage, Frederick W.; Schelhas, John; Kornhauser, Kailey. 2024. Characterizing community forests in the United States. Journal of Forestry. 122(3): 273-284. https://doi.org/10.1093/jofore/fvad054 https://research.fs.usda.gov/treesearch/67258
• Frey, Gregory E.; Hajjar, Reem; Charnley, Susan; McGinley, Kathleen; Schelhas, John; Tarr, Nathan A.; McCaskill, Lauren; Cubbage, Frederick W. 2024. “Community Forests” in the United States – how do we know one when we see one?. Society & Natural Resources. 37(8): 1240-1252. https://doi.org/10.1080/08941920.2024.2361413 https://research.fs.usda.gov/treesearch/68017

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