Earth Day’s Best Kept Secret: America’s Working Forests

Submitted: Two Sides North America April 21, 2026

This Earth Day, it’s worth taking a moment to recognize the millions of quiet stewards behind some of America’s most vital landscapes. When most people think about who owns America’s forests, they picture the government or large corporations. The reality is quite different, and a lot more personal; more than half of all U.S. forestland is privately owned. Across the country, over 10 million individuals, families, and corporations collectively supply roughly 90% of the nation’s timber harvest, a contribution that tends to fly under the radar in broader conversations about the logging industry. 

The ownership landscape is also more diverse than many assume. While large corporations hold a significant share, the majority of private forestland belongs to everyday families and individuals. Their motivations for ownership are equally varied and timber income is certainly part of the picture, but many landowners are equally focused on wildlife habitat, recreation, and preserving land as a long-term asset for future generations. 

The Truth About Timber

One of the most persistent misconceptions about working forests is that harvesting timber comes at the expense of the forest itself. The data tells a different story: private forests typically grow more than they harvest each year. Rather than a happy accident, this reflects the long-term thinking of landowners who understand that a well-managed, productive forest is far more valuable over time than one that’s been poorly stewarded. 

The environmental contributions of these forests extend well beyond timber production. Private working forests play a meaningful role in carbon sequestration, water filtration, air quality improvement, and biodiversity protection—benefits that reach far beyond property lines. 

Economically, the numbers are equally compelling. Industrial forestlands alone account for roughly 30% of the total timber supply, with non-industrial private owners making up much of the remainder. Together, they support jobs, drive regional economies, and supply the lumber and pulp that form the foundation of the construction and manufacturing industries. 

Dedicated Land Stewards  

Family forest owners aren’t a monolith, they’re everyday people making long-term decisions for the health of their land, their communities, and the generations that will come after them. They face real challenges, from rising costs to limited resources to a general lack of public awareness about the critical role they play. 

Dr. Portia Fulford recently hosted the planting of the one millionth tree; 65 acres of the 250 she owns in Prattville, Alabama, are enrolled in Fields & Forests, a program by the American Forest Foundation that helps small landowners plant loblolly pine trees across the Southeast. Dr. Fulford plans to build a teaching farm to help other families return to the land. 

Jim and Pam Porter were recognized by the American Forest Foundation as the 2025 National Outstanding Tree Farmers of the Year for the stewardship of their South Carolina land. The award is given to private landowners who show exceptional dedication to sustainable forestry, wildlife habitat, and community education. 

Privately owned forested land is a sector that rarely receives the recognition it deserves and quietly underpins a significant share of American industry and environmental stewardship. This Earth Day, as conversations turn to climate, conservation, and the future of our natural resources, the families and individuals caring for America’s private forests deserve a thanks for their land, their labor, and their long-term thinking. 

Family Forest by the Numbers

Owners: 

• Family forest owners manage the largest portion of American forests, 39%, more than the government or corporations 

• 21 million families and individuals care for 290 million acres of forestland across the U.S. 

• One in four rural Americans plays an active role in the health of our forests 

Benefits: 

• Carbon storage and sequestration 

• Wildlife habitat and biodiversity 

• Clean water filtration 

• Sustainable wood supplies 

• Wildfire mitigation potential 

• Economic support for rural communities 

Challenges:  

• Lack of specialized training available in forest management 

• High costs associated with proper land stewardship 

• Roughly two-thirds of family forest owners earn less than $100,000 annually 

Source: the American Forest Foundation 

About Two Sides North America

Two Sides North America is a member-supported non-profit advocacy organization for the paper, paper-based packaging, direct mail and graphic communications industries. Our goal is to dispel common environmental misconceptions and to inspire and inform businesses and consumers with engaging, factual information about the environmental sustainability and value of print, paper, and paper-based packaging. We are the only group working to dispel and remove Greenwashing language used by companies and organizations in North America.

To learn more about Two Sides North America and how to become a member, please visit our membership page.

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