Mapping ownership changes in Southwest Alabama timberlands

Background/Question/Methods

Over the last twenty years, industrial timber firms have sold much of their land base throughout the U.S. That land is being transferred from traditional vertically-integrated industry to public, non-governmental organizations (NGO), non-industrial private (NIP), and corporate in the form of timber investment management organizations (TIMOs) and real estate investment trusts (REITs). Because much of this land is situated between existing conservation lands, and because it is part of the historic longleaf pine (Pinus palustris Mill.) forest, this shift presents an opportunity for increased conservation and reintroduction of longleaf. Previous studies have shown that specific land ownership classifications have effects on ecology, economics, and society. This research applies that knowledge to three counties in Southwest Alabama, USA where timber production is concentrated. The team was interested in answering these questions: Where have timberlands changed hands? How can the new owners be classified? What might the outcome of this change be? Specifically, the project sought to map industrial timberland ownership from the early 1990s and compare that to current timberland ownership, identifying where land had changed hands and collecting information on new owners. The potential impacts of change were then applied to determine the possible outcomes of this event.

Results/Conclusions

It is evident that industry sold significant amounts of land in this area between 1990 and 2012. The majority of that land is now under corporate ownership. Because most of the land was sold intact, there is little fragmentation, and the absentee ownership remains at levels similar to the 1990s. While this might be positive from an ecological perspective, it means that the local population may see little increase in land control, and that the distance between locals and landowners may increase. Because it appears that the vast majority of this land will remain in timber production, it is likely that this area will remain dependent on timber as the primary part of its economy, and unless tax structures are reorganized, may continue to see little investment in local public services. Little work has been done to this point to show where lands have changed hands, so that the outcomes of that change might be understood. With the information provided by this study, efforts to conserve and restore habitats in this especially vulnerable area can be made more efficient. By classifying and mapping land ownership in this area, work can focus on the specific challenges and needs of the landscape.