Parcelization of South Carolina's private forestland: loggers' reactions to a growing threat.

Increasing populations and sprawling metropolitan areas are encouraging the subdivision (parcelization) of privately owned forested tracts. Major landownership changes, led by a realignment of the forest products industry land base, have exacerbated the issue. As a result, harvestable tract size is reduced, equipment moving frequency is increased, and costs related to timber production increase. Through a survey of South Carolina logging firms, this paper explores these and other related issues. Seventy-three percent of respondents have observed a reduction in their average harvested parcel size. In 1998, most were harvesting tracts 80 acres or larger, whereas they currently operate on tracts averaging 20 to 40 acres. In adapting to smaller tract sizes, 32 percent have reduced their number of employees; 26 percent have downsized their system; 15 percent refused to harvest small tracts; and 13 percent have increased their productivity. Thirteen percent of responding firms have made no adjustments to their operation in reaction to parcel size. Despite observing a reduction in parcel size, results indicate that high fixed costs and fuel prices are currently greater threats to firm viability than parcelization. Although expenses were high at the time of this survey, they routinely fluctuate. Logging firms must, therefore, realize the permanence of parcelization and adjust their systems accordingly. The forestry community must work together to improve management practices on smaller tracts and to minimize the continued parcelization of the landscape.