Paths to agroforestry: landowner types, land use and perceptions

Abstract

Land in the United States is predominantly owned by private individuals and families, and has traditionally been used for economic profit through agricultural or timber production. However, U.S. landownership patterns are changing, and an increasing number of landowners are acquiring land for non-monetary, amenity-based reasons. These changes impact landscapes and effective delivery of agroforestry and natural resource-based education and technical assistance programs. This thesis examines the adoption of conservation practices, landowner typologies, environmental concern and attitudes, and changing motivations for landownership to explore the relationships between landowner types, land use orientation, perceptions of trees and knowledge and interest in agroforestry practices. Two models of landowner types are utilized, one based on the distance landowners live from their land, the second based on their current or former involvement in agriculture.