Current Use Survey Results

The New Hampshire Timberland Owners Association, the NH Farm Bureau Federation, the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests, and the NH Statewide Program of Action to Conserve our Environment (SPACE) jointly conducted a survey of their members who own current use land regarding the State of New Hampshire’s Current Use Program. Information gathered in this survey will be used to develop policies and advocate for the Current Use Program in New Hampshire.

The results are in. 

Here are a few of the key highlights:

510 responses were received from respondents with Current Use land in more than 200 municipalities in New Hampshire.

• 35% of the respondents were Forest Society members. Thank you for taking part in the survey!
• Half of all respondents own land that has been in Current Use for at least 30 years.This is important to note because the overriding purpose behind Current Use is to encourage the preservation of undeveloped farm and forested lands. 
• Nearly half of respondents (45%) indicated that they would not be able to afford to keep their Current Use land if it were taxed based on its full market value. A further 8% would only be able to afford keeping a portion of their Current Use land.
• Slightly more than half of the respondents have less than 100 acres enrolled in the program.
• Six in 10 respondents (60%) permit a public access recreational trail for foot traffic on their Current Use land.
• 28% of respondents have land that is subject to a conservation easement. 67% do not. (6% do not know or did not provide a response.)