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Please note!
This fact brief was originally published as an experiment to test the concepts behind fact briefs.
Readers should be aware that while there is still a lot of useful information in fact briefs like this one, not all of them reflect Gigafact's current methods and standards for fact briefs. If you come across any that you feel are out of date, don't hesitate to contact us at support@gigafact.org.

Do most private land owners manage woodlands to reduce the impact of wildfires?

By Allegra Taylor
YES

Surveys have found that the majority of private landowners take measures to prevent wildfires on their land.

A 2011 survey of non-industrial private forest owners in Oregon found that 70% treated their holdings to reduce hazardous fuels, including clearing brush, grazing livestock and pruning trees. Landowners who lived on their property were eight times more likely to use such measures than those with primary residences elsewhere.

Another study of family owners in 13 states found that two-thirds of respondents took measures to prevent fires on their land. This study also found that landowners who did not live on their land were less likely to take preventative action.

As of 2019, 58% of forests and woodlands in the U.S. were privately-owned, with most belonging to families, individuals, trusts and estates. A smaller share was owned by corporations.

This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
ABOUT THE CONTRIBUTOR
Between 2020 and 2022, under close editorial supervision, Gigafact contracted a group of freelance writers and editors to test the concepts for fact briefs and provide inputs to our software development process. We call this effort Gigafact Foundry. Over the course of these two years, Gigafact Foundry writers published over 1500 fact briefs in response to claims they found online. Their important work forms the basis of Gigafact formats and editorial guidelines, and is available to the public on Gigafact.org. Readers should be aware that while there is still a lot of relevant information to be found, not all fact briefs produced by Gigafact Foundry reflect Gigafact's current methods and standards for fact briefs. If you come across any that you feel are out of date and need to be looked at with fresh eyes, don't hesitate to contact us at support@gigafact.org.
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