Abstract
Vermont's nonindustrial, private forest lands (NIPF) have the potential of supplying 3.3 million cords of fuelwood annually to the Northeast energy market. Annual commercial production levels during the energy crisis of the early 1980s, however, only reached 660,000 cords; 342,000 cords came from NIPF. An additional 340,000 cords were cut and consumed by NIPF owners. Low stumpage prices, landowner self-consumption, adverse esthetic impacts, and low stumpage volumes restricted the actual amount of NIPF wood sold to the region's commercial energy market. Fuelwood harvest in Vermont was associated with large parcel sizes (>100 ac), the landowner's personal use of fuelwood, and the existence of a forest management plan. Even under these conditions, the percentage of NIPF owners willing to sell to the commercial market remained small (25%). If fuelwood is to establish itself as a reliable energy resource in the Northeast, large ownerships must be protected from subdivision and fuelwood stumpage prices must increase dramatically. North J. Appl. For 8(2):57-59