Iowa's Woodlands
at a crossroads

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Iowa's woodlands, which had been 60% cleared by the beginning of the previous century, have made a slow and steady comeback. What will the next century hold?

Owner survey
In Fall 2002, the University of Northern Iowa Strategic Marketing Services surveyed about 1,000 Iowans who own land that's enrolled in the forest reserve program. The research was supported by a grant from the USDA Forest Service and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources-Forestry Bureau.

The survey identified several owner similarities: 87% own fewer than 100 woodland acres, 67% have owned the woodland more than 10 years, 85% live within 25 miles of it and 70% allow others to use it for recreation (98% of those at no charge). Their top three (of 12) reasons for owning woodlands are to enjoy beauty and scenery, conserve wildlife habitat, and protect nature and biological diversity. Their bottom three reasons include timber harvest, vacation homes and development.

Iowa's forest reserve
Iowa's forest reserve program was created in 1906 to "reduce or eliminate property taxes to induce landowners to hold their poorer lands in timber not only as a source of farm income but also for erosion control, watershed protection and game cover." Of Iowa's total forest acres, 92% are in private ownership and 27% are enrolled in the forest reserve program.

According to the Iowa DNR, Iowa's forest reserve program generates many public benefits: wildlife habitat (including a $1.1 billion hunting and fishing industry), watershed protection (because most Iowa woodlands are on steep slopes or floodplains), $1 billion in economic activity related to timber harvest and processing, outdoor recreation (including $5.9 million from northeast Iowa's fall color tourism) and air quality enhancement.

Looking back, forward
Though Iowa's forest reserve program has been abused by some developers holding investment property, most Iowa woodland owners appear to be using the program as intended. Indeed, National Resources Inventory figures show that Iowa's forest acres grew 17% from 1982 to 1997.

However, development is a growing threat. According to the Iowa Realtors Land Institute, sales prices for Iowa's woodlands increased an unprecedented 11% in a recent 6-month period.

Owners determined to preserve their woodland's natural values should consider long-term protection options. Non-owners and policy-makers, too, should support efforts to protect Iowa's forest resources and their public benefits for future generations.

Released 10/24/03

For more information, e-mail Cathy Engstrom, director of communications, or call (515) 288-1846.