Forest landowner cooperatives in the United States: A local focus for engaging landowners

Family forest owners are showing an increasing interest in forest landowner cooperatives as a mechanism for providing a variety of services related to sustainable forest management and product processing. Because these cooperatives are locally owned, user-controlled, small-scale participatory entities, they can more easilly adapt to member needs than some other landowner assistance programs. Fifteen experts identified the benefits, strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats to these cooperatives. The results suggest ways in which cooperatives can enhance their effectiveness by seizing opportunities, counteracting threats, and addressing weaknesses. Key issues related to improving cooperative effectiveness include (1) expanding membership to enhance leadership and volunteer assistance, (2) improving marketing efforts, and (3) developing better networks within the local community, with other forestry cooperatives, and with organizations that offer assistance to cooperatives.