African-American forestland owners in Alabama's Black Belt

A survey in Alabama's Black Belt counties reveals that, like other nonindustrial private forest (NIPF) owners in the region, African-American forestland owners have diverse ownership objectives and occupations and represent the relatively financially well-off and better educated group in their communities. However, they have lower household incomes, hold their properties longer, and manage forestland less intensively than NIPF owners in general. The constraints they faced indicate a strong need to engage them in the stewardship of their forest resources, but such an effort calls for different landowner assistance programs and approaches.