Multivariate probit modeling of decisions on timber harvesting and request for assistance by African-American forestland owners

This study identifies factors influencing the decisions to harvest timber and request assistance by African-American forestland owners in Alabama's Black Belt. A multivariate probit model is estimated using landowner survey data to predict the landowners' interrelated behavior in timber harvesting and request for technical and financial assistance. The size of forestland holdings, existence of management plans, and occupation of landowners are significantly related to timber harvesting. Landowners who have a management plan are more likely to seek technical and financial assistance. In addition, importance of timber production and contribution of forestland to household income affect the landowners' request for technical assistance, while age influences their decisions to seek financial assistance. Timber harvesting is positively correlated with seeking technical assistance, which is positively associated with seeking financial assistance. In general, these landowners tend not to seek assistance. Our results show some similarities as well as differences between African-American forestland owners and general nonindustrial private forestland (NIPF) owners. More successes in reaching out to African-American forestland owners would be achieved through incorporating their uniqueness and constraints in future program design and implementation and by initially targeting those who have a management plan or a desire to develop one, rely more on forests for income, and are more inclined to timber production.