Multivariate Probit Modeling of Decisions on Timber Harvesting and Request for Assistance by African-American Forestland Owners Jianbang Gan, Department of Forest Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843; and Ellene Kebede, Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, AL 36088. ABSTRACT: This study identifies factors influencing the decisions to harvest timber and request assis- tance 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 harvest- ing 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. Landown- ers 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 nonin- dustrial 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. South. J. Appl. For. 29(3): 135–142. Key Words: Minority forestland owners, landowner assistance, simultaneous probit models. Nonindustrial private forestlands (NIPF) cover about 78% of the total forestland area in Alabama (Hartsell and Brown 2002). These forests play an important role in supplying timber and nontimber products and services at the local, state, and regional levels. Among the NIPF owners in Ala- bama are African-Americans. They own about 4% of pri- vate forestlands in the state (Rosson and Doolittle 1987). In terms of the number of NIPF owners, however, African- American representation could be much higher because they generally own smaller tracts, particularly in the Black Belt where a high African-American concentration can be found. The Black Belt refers to the trans-South band of rich soils that support cotton production. In Alabama, it also coincides with the high concentration of African-Americans who were historically tied to cotton production (Molnar and Adrian 1980). Alabama’s rural Black Belt counties, located in the south-central section of the state, are also the most richly forested area in the state. Yet they are among the poorest in the state and nation (US Census Bureau 2002). This di- lemma presents both challenges and opportunities for for- estry and economic development in the region (Bliss and Howze 1993, Kolison and Gan 1995). The stewardship of forestlands owned by African-Americans not only contrib- utes to the sustainability and health of the overall forest resources in the state and to the provision of raw materials to the local forest products industry, but also represents a potential economic opportunity for these landowners. Un- fortunately, the economic opportunity has not been ade- quately realized by African-American forestland owners. They have historically been underrepresented in the forestry NOTE: Jianbang Gan can be reached at (979) 862-4392; Fax: (979) 845-6049; j-gan@silva.tamu.edu. Ellene Kebede can be reached at (334) 724-4522; Fax: (334) 724-4451; kebede@tusk.edu. This study was finan- cially supported in part by the USDA Fund for Rural America Competitive Grant Program (Grant # 97-36200-5271). The authors would like to thank the editor, associate editor, and anonymous reviewers for their helpful comments and suggestions. However, any errors are ours. Manuscript received July 11, 2002, accepted May 7, 2003. Copyright © 2005 by the Society of American Foresters. SJAF 29(3) 2005 135 Downloaded from https://academic.oup.com/sjaf/article/29/3/135/4690627 by guest on 11 October 2021